How about Tatum for Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Spurs 2022 1st unprotected?
I think the Spurs would do it, and it makes us a better team.
Come on. The team that gets the best player in the trade usually is the winner.
Yeah, I don't think it makes us better either. I'd much rather have Tatum than Dejounte Murray.
I am not a big believer in Murray. His jump-shot hasn't improved enough in his 3-4 years in the NBA and he isn't enough of a threat as a shooter for me to consider him a legit star. At this point, I don't even consider him an All-Star candidate. More like a top 40 player than a top 25 player (All-Star).
To give up a player in Tatum who is clearly a top 25 player and has had prolonged stretches of play where he performs like a bubble top 10 player (just in or just outside top 10) for a player who is only a top 40 player, a role player in Keldon Johnson and a pick that is likely late lottery.
No ... I'd much rather have Tatum. Getting a player as good as Tatum is much harder to do than getting equivalent pieces that SAS is giving up.
1. There are precious few true playmakers in the NBA, and Murray is one, while Tatum isn't, and no other Celtic is either. I don't see a path to a title without better decision making than we have. I would prefer any deal that lands us a real playmaker, even at another position.
Tatum is the more valuable player for sure, but Murray is arguably having a better season thus far. Let's not forget he is a very big and athletic point who may be the best guard defender in the league. He's far better than top 40.
2. Keldon Johnson is not a role player. He's got all-star potential and is a plus starter right now at 22. He is very athletic and can play 3 positions. He's becoming an elite shooter too.
3. The Spurs pick is certainly not late lottery right now. I doubt a deal like this is going to change that. They might move back two slots.
I'll admit to not being a Tatum guy. I don't think he gets us there.
(3) Oh, you are re right. I am wrong. Their W-L record is worse than I remembered. I was thinking of them on the border of a play-in spot in the West (1 win behind Portland for 10th and final place) but I forgot how bad those 10-13th place teams are in the West.
Yeah, that should be a top 10 pick. I like the Spurs to improve some with Tatum but they are pretty far back on the 9th place team in the West so small improvement rather than large improvement. Should still be a top 10 pick.
(2) Why do you think Keldon Johnson is a future All-Star?
I don't see it. He is a 13-15ppg 6rpg on a mediocre Spurs team. He is a nice hard-working hustle guy but where is the extra creation? Shot creation or playmaking? These are pedestrian numbers. Where is the star potential you see?
(1) Why do you rate Murray so highly?
I agree he is an excellent defender & rebounder but his offensive game is too limited. His scoring efficiency of 50.1% is way way below the average efficiency of 55% (and this is something we have seen throughout his career). He is a mediocre shooter who struggles with outside shooting.
The only reason he has the ball in his hands so much is because he plays on a mediocre team with no star talent. On a top team, his lousy scoring efficiency would make unwise to allow him to handle the ball + shoot the ball often enough for him to get 18ppg and 8apg.
The reason he does not get the 8apg is because he has the ball less because they do not want him to shoot as much. And because he has to share it with other star talent unlike in San Antonio.
Murray is a player who has major stat-inflation from playing a mediocre team where he is the star-talent.
