Atlanta Hawks Receive: G/F Keldon Johnson, F Doug McDermott, 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL via SAS), 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – ATL via SAS), 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL via SAS)Â
San Antonio Spurs Receive: G Trae YoungÂ
Meanwhile, we’ve got these two teams playing hot potato with their draft capital.
We see this sometimes. In the modern NBA, star players are often swapped for little more than draft capital – a lot of draft capital.
It can create an awkward dynamic. If a team has given up their picks, they have no incentive to tank. As a result, those picks are less valuable to the team that received them. The opposing team is actively avoiding the lottery.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Trae Young, San Antonio Spurs & Atlanta Hawks Updates
That’s the situation we’ve got here. The Hawks traded three unprotected first-rounders to the Spurs in exchange for Dejounte Murray.
Now, they’ve got no incentive to bottom out.Â
Would they have that incentive following this deal?