When the Hawks stumbled out of the gate, Spurs Nation celebrated, hoping that their troubles would last the entire season. It didn't take them long to right the ship, and now, as the standings start to take shape, it's becoming clear that they are going to make it to the postseason. That means San Antonio's pick swap loses a ton of value.
The Dejounte Murray trade has been the gift that keeps on giving, but if we want Brian Wright to take full advantage of the asset, he may need to trade it away. FanSided published a new mock draft, and if things shake out the way they predict, the Silver and Black would be doing a disservice to themselves to let the year play out.
The new mock draft predicts Spurs will select in the 20s
San Antonio has gotten off to a great start this season, so their pick won't be worth much at this rate, and they can only use one. FanSided had Wright and co. picking Cameron Carr from Baylor—a 6'5" shooting guard, and that just can't be the case this year. I bucked at all the critics who claimed that the Spurs shouldn't draft Dylan Harper because they had too many guards. This is where I draw the line.
I'm a firm believer in taking the talent on the board and letting things shake out from there, but that's only when either your team has a talent deficit or the skill level between the higher-ranked guy and the "fills a need" guy is too great. San Antonio has more than enough at the guard position right now (when everyone is healthy).
What they need is a more dynamic and reliable power forward and/or a Trey Murphy-level small forward. We saw what Murphy was capable of when the Spurs and Pelicans matched up in the not-so-distant past. He dropped 41 points, putting on a clinic and basically pleading for a competent organization to save him from New Orleans.
The Spurs should make a deal with the Pelicans
One of Air Alamo's writers, Cal Durrett, suggested a trade between the two, and it's been making the rounds on social media lately. San Antonio would have to give up Devin Vassell, the 2026 Hawks' pick swap, the 2027 Hawks' pick, and the 2031 pick swap from the Kings. The idea has been met with all kinds of opinions, but one I keep seeing frequently is that SA would be giving up too many picks.
My opinion on this is very simple. Picks don't play. You hope to draft guys who end up being staples for your organization, but there are no sure things in sports. What we know for certain, right now, is that Murphy is a baller and would help this team immediately. We don't know where those picks will land, nor who will be available, and if they'll even work out. I'd much rather get a player we know is a stud.
A starting lineup of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Trey Murphy III, Harrison Barnes, and Victor Wembanyama could win a championship. Maybe they get a steal from the draft, but are you really going to clutch late first-round picks that tightly for that kind of maybe? No, thank you.