I guess Atlanta wants to make a run for the top East spot.
Major props to them.
Keeping John Collins and Clint Capela could be a great move with Trae Young and now, Dejounte Murray in their squad.
With that said, I am liking what the San Antonio Spurs did.
As of this moment, the Spurs are a talent factory. They traded Derrick White - the 29th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft - for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 2022 NBA Draft first-round pick that turned into Notre Dame combo guard Blake Wesley, and the right to swap picks in the 2028 NBA Draft. Now, they are trading Murray - their 29th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Atlanta will give up Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks, and a future pick swap.
Of the remaining young San Antonio players they drafted, Devin Vassell is the only lottery pick other than incoming sophomore Joshua Primo - who is probably the next in line in Murray's top dog order. Lonnie Walker is the 18th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft while Keldon Johnson is the 29th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Getting tons of leverage for expiring contracts, pick swaps, and draft picks are good for San Antonio. And it's not like they let White and Murray rot to down-and-out teams. White just made the NBA Finals and Murray will join Trae as a one-two backcourt show in Atlanta.
Here's the thing though - who is going to benefit from these moves? Gregg Popovich is already 73 years old so he's probably giving these gifts to his successor.
It would be awesome if Pop cedes his position to former Northern Consolidated Cement player and longtime Spurs assistant coach Chip Engelland.