The Trae Young saga continues.
The Atlanta Hawks are rumored to be considering a trade involving the three-time All-Star, with the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs topping the list of potential destinations. However, while the Lakers still appear hot on his trail on his trail, the Spurs’ stance may have cooled. Per NBC Sports insider Kurt Helin, “San Antonio doesn’t see Young as a fit with (Victor) Wembanyama going forward.”
“The Spurs might be more interested in the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray if he is available,” Helin adds.
Trae Young Trade Saga Continues with Latest Spurs Rumor
There’s reason to question if Young fits what Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is looking for in a point guard. Short and slim, his point-of-attack defense will constantly be a concern. His shot-selection leaves a lot to be desired, with Young rarely hesitating to call his own number. Lastly, he isn’t necessarily built for an offense that preaches quick decision-making, averaging 5.82 seconds per touch (the third-highest in the NBA).
However, the Spurs desperately need better point guard play and more firepower.
In the 2023-24 regular season, the Spurs averaged 112.1 points per game (23rd in the NBA) and had a 110.0 offensive rating (26th in the NBA). Young has averaged at least 25 points per game in five of his six career seasons. He’s a stupendous shot-creator who buries bigs with giant-killers whenever he’s not pulling up from 3-point land. The 25-year-old offers the passing they get from Tre Jones with the scoring they don’t get from anyone.
Amazingly, San Antonio averaged 29.9 assists per game in 2023-24, the second-highest mark in the league. Yet, the Spurs routinely struggled to get the ball to Wembanyama, limiting his production on post-ups and lobs. Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points per game, a sparkling scoring average for a rookie. But he could have averaged closer to 25 points per game if his teammates were able to deliver more timely and accurate passes. Playing without a true starting point guard for much of the season, there’s a significant reason to believe the Spurs would want to acquire Young.
Is Dejounte Murray Really a Better Fit?
Murray does make more sense for the Spurs.
Less of a ball-dominant guard than Young, the former first-round pick has five years of experience playing in Popovich’s system. Furthermore, he’s averaged at least 20 points and 6 assists per game over the past three seasons, demonstrating the ability to be a primary playmaker. His on-ball defense also suffers from his lack of size, largely because his thin frame makes it difficult for him to fight through screens. However, he has a knack for jumping the passing lanes, averaging 1.4 steals per game for his career.
Lastly, he would likely be easier to acquire than Young because the price will be cheaper. The Hawks aren’t trying to give Murray away, so the Spurs will still have to pay top dollar. Nonetheless, for Young, Atlanta may be expecting a king’s ransom.
