The Spurs and Hawks continue to discuss a possible trade that would send All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to Atlanta, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
Fischer reported prior to last week’s draft that San Antonio and Atlanta were talking about Murray, and it appears those conversations didn’t end when the draft did.
Fischer’s initial reporting suggested that the two teams were discussing a package that would include John Collins, but Zach Klein of WSB-TV in Atlanta tweets that some sources around the NBA believe the Hawks are working on a Murray deal that would instead involve Danilo Gallinari and multiple first-round picks. Fischer adds (via Twitter) that he has heard those same whispers.
While Collins is under contract for four more seasons at a rate of $25M annually, Gallinari is on a partially guaranteed expiring contract and will be off the books after the 2022-23 season. If the Spurs are looking more toward the future than the present, they may value cap flexibility and the opportunity to load up on draft picks more than a win-now player like Collins.
For what it’s worth, a package that doesn’t involve Collins and is heavy on draft picks would line up more with the “Jrue Holiday-like” return Fischer said last week that the Spurs were seeking. The Pelicans received three first-round picks and a pair of first-round pick swaps from Milwaukee in that Holiday deal.
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