Report: Dejounte Murray would welcome return to Spurs
One of the hottest names on the NBA Trade Market is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who signed a $114 million extension with the Hawks this offseason.
Among the rumored teams who could have some semblance of interest, according to Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer, are: The Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons.
Though the San Antonio Spurs, the worst team in the West (while the Pistons are the worst in the East and NBA, mind you) and Murray’s former team, are rumored to be another possible suitor. Murray himself would welcome a trade back,, according to TNT sideline reporter Dennis Scott.
“Pop is like a father to me, I would welcome that,” he said, according to Scott during Monday’s Atlanta Hawks-San Antonio Spurs MLK contest. “But right now, I’m a Hawk, I’m going to stay professional and play the right way.”
Through 39 games, he’s averaging 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 46.7 percent from the floor, a career-high 38.6 percent from 3-point range and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Murray, whose current cap hit is $18.2 million (according to Spotrac), was traded from San Antonio two offseasons ago for Danilo Gallinari and multiple first-round picks, so the Hawks are expected to want a reasonable haul back with pick compensation–which could unearth at least one of its own picks if a Spurs-Hawks trade ensued.
San Antonio isn’t close to being a contender, so the gamble for Murray may be risky, though a Murray-Victor Wembanyama combination for the next half-decade is incredibly enticing, on the surface.
It’s also practically impossible for the Spurs to deal Devin Vassell, since his contract is currently poison-pilled, if that was Atlanta’s starting asking price; San Antonio’s next-best non-Wembanyama trade chips being (in no particular order): Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Doug McDermott, Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham and Cedi Osman, among others.
Murray will not be able to decide where he goes. At this stage of his career, it’s fair to assume the 27-year-old wants to win in a stable situation, whether San Antonio fits into that category or not.
Should he welcome a return? Let us know in the comments!
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