The San Antonio Spurs surprised a lot of people last season when they made the Play-In Tournament. Led by Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson, Gregg Popovich had a chance at getting back into the playoffs.
Unfortunately for them, they didn’t make it that far, losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Play-In. And now, recent rumors have made it seem as though Murray could be available for trade.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report noted that the asking price for Murray could be something along the lines of three first-round picks. At least, that’s where the offer would have to start.
Now, it’s important to note that this is likely nothing more than speculation, as Murray has been tweeting sarcastic comments as the news has unfolded. But if the Spurs were to trade him (which they probably shouldn’t), what are some NBA trades they should consider?
NBA Trades: 3 Dejounte Murray trades for the San Antonio Spurs: Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder receive: Dejounte Murray
Spurs receive: Lu Dort, Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, 2023 1st-Round Pick (via LAC), 2024 1st-Round Pick (via UTA), 2025 1st-Round Pick (via MIA), 2026 1st-Round Pick (via HOU), 2027 1st-Round Pick (via DEN)
Okay, so you get the point. The Oklahoma City Thunder probably wouldn’t have to give up this many first-rounders to get Dejounte Murray, but if the San Antonio Spurs value picks more than anything else, the Thunder have the best offer out there.
If the Thunder want to go for it and believe Murray is one of the missing pieces to help them reach their goals, then they could throw a treasure trove of picks at the Spurs.
Lu Dort, Alexsek Pokusevski, and Theo Maledon all still have potential, but if the Thunder are getting back an All-Star without losing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, or Josh Giddey, they’d probably be pretty happy.
Meanwhile, the Spurs would get a few valuable young pieces and a ton of picks that would help set them up beautifully for the future (just like the Thunder are set up right now.)