The offseason rumor mill is buzzing with speculation, particularly surrounding the Atlanta Hawks, who had a disappointing NBA season. Despite making a significant move for Dejounte Murray two years ago, Atlanta hasn’t seen the desired results, sparking talks of potentially splitting up the duo this summer.
While much of the trade chatter has revolved around Trae Young, it was Dejounte Murray who was the subject of trade discussions leading up to the deadline. Although Atlanta chose to retain Murray at that time, there’s now speculation that he could be on the move this offseason.
One intriguing possibility is trading Murray back to his original team. The Spurs initiated a rebuild by trading Murray, acquiring Victor Wembanyama, whose emergence has brought optimism to San Antonio’s future. Wembanyama is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, but the team lacks a suitable point guard to complement him. This has prompted speculation about the Spurs’ interest in either acquiring Young or reuniting Murray with Gregg Popovich.
Greg Swartz, an analyst at Bleacher Report, suggests that the Spurs should consider bringing Murray back and has proposed a bold trade scenario to facilitate the move.
San Antonio Spurs Receive: PG Dejounte Murray
Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Keldon Johnson, PG Devonte’ Graham, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks (via Atlanta Hawks)
Some franchises gradually construct a winning team around their standout rookie, gradually accumulating top draft picks before aggressively pursuing a championship. Yet, Victor Wembanyama’s exceptional talent prompts the San Antonio Spurs to immediately shift towards a win-now approach, especially with their veteran 75-year-old head coach, Gregg Popovich, for whom patience is not an option.
Dejounte Murray blossomed into an All-Star caliber point guard during his tenure with the Spurs, spending his initial six seasons there before being traded to the Hawks in 2022. However, this move has largely faltered. A reunion with Popovich on a Spurs squad in need of an upgraded point guard seems inevitable. Reports suggest the Spurs expressed interest in Murray during this year’s trade deadline, and Murray himself has spoken highly of Popovich, emphasizing their deep personal connection beyond basketball.
In a potential trade scenario, Atlanta’s front office might seek to reclaim some of their initially traded first-round picks along with Johnson and a backup point guard for Young, perhaps Graham. This move would allow the Hawks to reshape their roster around Young while gaining back control of their draft picks. Johnson’s solid performance as a starter provides another valuable rotation option for them.
Conversely, Murray would assume a leadership role on a youthful Spurs team still in possession of additional first-round picks from various sources. This trade could be beneficial for both sides, especially if San Antonio agrees to part with the mentioned assets. The Hawks would retain only the right to swap their 2026 pick with the Spurs, while Johnson and Graham offer intriguing depth options. With these acquired picks, Atlanta could potentially explore further roster enhancements, aiming to find suitable players to complement Trae Young’s playstyle.
