HAWKS TRADE FOR MURRAY, GIVE UP GALLINARI, PICKS
Trae Young will have an all-star backcourt partner on the Atlanta Hawks.
The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to trade Dejounte Murray to the Hawks for a package of draft assets that includes three first-round picks, a person with knowledge of the trade confirmed Wednesday.
Atlanta will send San Antonio its unprotected 2025 and 2027 first-round picks, a 2023 first-round pick belonging to the Charlotte Hornets and a first-round pick swap in 2026. Veteran forward Danilo Gallinari was also included in the deal. ESPN first reported the trade’s terms.
Murray, 25, established himself as an elite on-ball defender early in his career before breaking out as San Antonio’s leading scorer last season. The 2016 firstround pick averaged a career-high 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists in 2021-22, earning his first all-star selection and leading the Spurs to the Western Conference’s play-in tournament.
The Hawks, who reached the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, entered the offseason seeking a major talent upgrade after a disappointing first-round playoff exit to the Miami Heat. In that series, the 23-year-old Young struggled to score efficiently while facing extra attention from the Heat’s defense.
Murray’s arrival will give Young, one of the NBA’s top playmakers, a reliable secondary ballhandler and creator on offense. Perhaps more importantly, Murray, an elite point-of-attack defender who led the NBA in steals per game last season, can cover for Young’s defensive deficiencies by tackling the most difficult backcourt matchups.
Young’s presence should make Murray’s life easier, too. San Antonio ranked 30th in the league in clutch offense with Murray at the helm, often struggling to generate good opportunities due to his poor outside shooting and his limited supporting cast. Young will continue to serve as the lead option late in games, freeing Murray to be an off-the-dribble threat when defenses load up on Atlanta’s closer.
Trading Murray represents another step toward a more dramatic rebuilding effort for the Spurs, who have missed the playoffs in the past three seasons and have languished since trading Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in 2018. At February’s trade deadline, San Antonio sent guard Derrick White to the Boston Celtics for future draft picks.
After shipping out two of their most productive players, the Spurs could find themselves in position to compete for a top selection in the well-regarded 2023 draft, which will include highly coveted French prospect Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs got a strong haul of picks for a non-superstar, and they could have two lottery picks in 2023, depending on where the Hornets finish. Gallinari, 33, averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds off the bench last season and is on a $21.5 million expiring contract that is partially guaranteed.
For San Antonio, parting with Murray, who was taken with the 29th pick in the 2016 draft, couldn’t have been an easy decision. The long-armed, 6-foot-4 guard’s development was a point of pride for the post-Leonard Spurs, who helped longtime coach Gregg Popovich become the NBA’s all-time winningest coach in March. A grateful Murray presented the game ball to Popovich.
“Coach Pop, you deserve it,” Murray said at the time. “We all love you and we’re glad we’re here to be able to enjoy this moment with you.”
Harden not taking option
James Harden is taking less with hopes the Philadelphia 76ers can do more.
A person familiar with the situation said Harden chose not to exercise his $47.4 million option for next season and will become a free agent — but with no designs on leaving Philadelphia. Harden made the decision to allow the 76ers the flexibility they need to sign other players this summer, said the person.
That will be a major factor when the NBA opens the free agency negotiating window at 3 p.m. PDT today, with Philadelphia among the teams that will be expected to target Miami forward P.J. Tucker, among others.
The most likely scenario for Harden now is this: The 10-time All-Star signs a new deal with Philadelphia, for something close to that $47.4 million number, after the team has addressed other needs and improved its chances of becoming a true championship contender in 2023. If Harden had opted in before his Wednesday afternoon deadline, Philadelphia would have had a much more difficult time in finding financial pathways toward luring free agents.
Wizards, Nuggets deal
Washington agreed to trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith to Denver for point guard Monte Morris and veteran wing Will Barton, according to two people with knowledge of the transaction. The move will not become official until July 6, when the league finalizes salary cap and luxury tax numbers for the 202223 season.
With the deal, the Wizards checked off one of their top two priorities of the summer: to find a reliable solution at point guard. The other is to re-sign franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal to a long-term contract.
Beal declined his $36.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season Wednesday, according to his agent Mark Bartelstein, and became a free agent for the first time in his career. The guard can now re-sign with the Wizards for a maximum contract worth roughly $250 million over five years or join a different team, either through free agency or a sign-and-trade deal.
Lakers exercise options
The Los Angeles Lakers exercised their team options for next season on Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel.
Johnson started 27 of his 48 games last season for the Lakers, who signed the Orange County native as a free agent on Christmas Eve. Johnson emerged as a solid rotation defender and capable winger for the disappointing Lakers, averaging 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Johnson was the eighth overall pick by Detroit in 2015.
Gabriel started five of his 19 games with the Lakers after signing as a free agent March 1. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
The Lakers haven’t announced their decision on the team option for Austin Reaves, but he is nearly certain to be back after a strong rookie season by the former undrafted free agent.