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NBA rumors are swirling about guards who could be traded this summer and the San Antonio Spurs might have just added two marquee names to the list of trade candidates.
After being one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties for years, led by stars like Tim Duncan, the Spurs find themselves at a crossroads. DeMar DeRozan is a free agent this summer and while there is some intriguing talent still on the roster, San Antonio doesn’t have a foundational piece.
With the added uncertainty around how many more years Gregg Popovich will be on the bench, the Spurs could make some significant changes this summer. Among them, moving one of their core guards.
The Athletic’s Zach Harper spoke to multiple league sources who said Dejounte Murray and Derrick White are “gettable” this summer via trade.
Murray, the 29th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this past season. The 24-year-old guard is under contract through the 2023-’24 season, a deal that tops out at $17.7 million in the final year.
White, drafted with the 29th pick in 2017, has emerged as an outstanding defender. He signed a four-year, $73 million contract with San Antonio in December and improved as a shooter this past season. While the 6-foot-4 guard offers All-Defensive team upside, he is unlikely to ever become an impact player on a championship-caliber team.
The Spurs likely feel the need to do something noteworthy this summer. San Antonio has missed the playoffs for consecutive seasons. To put that in context, the Spurs missed the playoffs just once from 1989-2018.
Once the 2021 NBA Draft concludes, San Antonio will likely shift its focus to figuring out a sign-and-trade with DeRozan. After that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the organization pulls off another blockbuster deal to spark improvements next season.