(Translator’s Note: The author of this article is TA reporter Zach Harper. The content in the article does not represent the views of the translator and this platform)
Before the draft, there were rumors that the San Antonio Spurs were receiving inquiries about Dejounte Murray Inquiry call, but their asking price is very high, and it will take multiple first rounds before the Spurs can send away their new All-Star guard. Considering that the 25-year-old Murray has just had a breakout year this season, was selected to the All-Star for the first time in his career, and performed very well on both ends of the offense and defense, this move by the Spurs made many people in the league feel Shock. Another problem is that everyone doubts whether any team will meet the Spurs' high asking price.
Fast forward to the day before the free market opened. People's speculations and shocks turned into reality. Murray left San Antonio. The Spurs used the steal leader from the Hawks in exchange for veteran Gallinari, three first-round picks and a first-round pick. Round swap rights.
Before, most people thought that the Spurs' response to Murray's inquiry was only tentative, but after a truly crazy twist in the plot, the San Antonio people have obviously started their own tank engine, and they hope to "impact" with all their strength in 2023 The No. 1 pick in the draft, and took Victor Vunbanyama. The big man from France confused all the rebuilding teams, and the Spurs fired the first shot of this competition.
As for the Eagles, after acquiring Murray, they have truly become a strong team that needs to be focused on by all parties next season. The Trae Yanga-Murray backcourt is capable of competing with any opponent. Let’s get out our marking pens and give both sides of this deal a grade.
Hawks rating A+
Get: Dejounte Murray
Send: Gallinari, 2023 protected first-round pick (from Hornets ), 20252027 first-round pick (own team, unprotected), 2026 First-round swap rights
If you look at what they gave up to acquire Murray, Hawks president Terrence Schlenk and his colleagues pulled off a heist. Murray is the most perfect backcourt partner of Trae Young among the players available to the Hawks. He can play without the ball and is also very good with the ball. He has the ability to put his foot on the gas in transition and can also be a dangerous catch-and-shooter. Murray is indeed not an excellent outside shooter, but he knows how to analyze the situation on the court and use correct decisions to tear apart the opponent's fortress. His mid-range shooting is very lethal, and his ability to attack the basket is also above the standard.
Picture left: Hawks President Terrence Schlenk
The Hawks' current problem is that they rely too much on Trae Young on offense. He must hold the ball all the time, and his usage rate is as high as the charts. This not only affects his scoring, His organizational efficiency also prevents him from exerting his threat off the ball. After Murray joins, the Eagles coaching staff can arrange more off-ball tactics for Young, and their offense is expected to become more dynamic. Yes, the Hawks' offensive data this season is great, but in the playoffs , every move they make is expected by their opponents. Heat used Vincent to bite Yang crazily throughout the game. No matter where he went, Vincent was inseparable, and the effect was indeed quite outstanding. When Trae Young returns without success again and again, everyone will think that if there is another All-Star guard next to Young, the opponent should no longer be able to be so unscrupulous.
Murray is also one of the best defensive players in the league today. He is a genius in pressing defense, and his opponent's turnover rate is quite terrifying. Murray is also very experienced in bypassing screens, making up for defense in the penalty area, and changing defenses on the outside. Murray has great athleticism and a ridiculously long wingspan. The Hawks' backcourt defense has always been problematic before, and in the playoffs it has repeatedly become the focus of opponents' attacks. Due to his poor stature and defensive habits, Yang's defensive weaknesses will be difficult to change in the short term. In the future, he will still be taken care of by his opponents, but with Murray, this weakness will be compensated to the greatest extent.
In addition, with the addition of Murray, the Eagles coaching staff has also gained greater flexibility in lineup scheduling. In the future, they can stagger the playing time of the two, allowing the team to always maintain an All-Star defender controlling the rhythm on the court.
The Hawks unexpectedly reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Their outstanding record allowed Terrence Schlenk to retain almost all of the core lineup this season. But by the middle of the season, Schlenk was openly questioning his previous decisions in interviews, as the team immediately stalled and completely blacked out after a great year. The Eagles in the middle and early stages of this season did not show the energy and passion of last year at all, and changes are urgent. Now Schlenk found a perfect backcourt partner for Young, and all he paid was some draft picks and Gallinari, not even a key rotation or potential rookie. Very amazing deal!
Victor Vunbanyama
Spurs rating D-
Received: Gallinari, 2023 protected first-round pick (from Hornets), 2025 2027 first-round pick (own team, unprotected), 2026 first-round swap Quan
sent: Dejounte Murray
The only reason why I didn’t give the Spurs an F grade in this deal is that they should completely become a standard tank team in the new season with a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick. This is consistent with Their plan, after all, has the cornerstone No. 1 pick in 2023, Bunyama Yama. If they end up completing their plan and have some luck in the lottery, the evaluation of this deal can be improved a bit. Who is Wenbanyama? Let's put it this way, a cornerstone inside player with Gobert level defensive ability and more potential in all aspects.
Related Reading NBA Scouting: Bunyama is a combination of Gobert, Pozzim, and Jokic. He plays with aplomb.
San Antonio is clearly taking strides toward rebuilding, and they hit the ground running before this season's trade deadline. , sent Thaddeus Young to Toronto , Derrick White to Boston, and all received this year's first-round picks. Murray is the last remaining All-Star caliber player on this team. He fought his way through the fierce competition in the Western Conference this season and appeared on the All-Star Game stage for the first time in his career. From a statistical analysis, he also had the best year of his career this season. But it is clear that the Spurs management has no interest or confidence in building a team around him and using these players. They have set their sights on 2023 and are willing to move anyone to get as many lottery picks as possible next year.
They received the 2023 first-round pick from the Hornets today, but since Charlotte is on the rise, it is expected that this pick will only be in the middle and late first round. It is worth noting that this first-round pick is protected before the 16th pick next year and the 14th pick before 24 and 25. If it is not realized within three years, it will be converted into two second-round picks. In addition, the Spurs also received two unprotected first-round picks from the Hawks, in 2025 and 2027, as well as the right to swap the first round in 2026.
I believe that after reading the above details of the signing year and protection situation, you will find that this deal is a gamble for the Spurs. They must get Wenbanyama next year, and then pray that the Eagles will fall apart in 2025. . Otherwise, they would just exchange the last All-Star in their current lineup for a bunch of draft picks in the 20s.
Gallinari is meaningless to the Spurs, just like he has not brought any real help to the Hawks. If the Spurs decide not to give him up in the near future and let him find a new home, they are expected to part ways with him before the trade deadline of the new season.
Original text: Zach Harper
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