Proposed Spurs, Pelicans Blockbuster Gets Two 20 PPG Scorers to San Antonio
The San Antonio Spurs made the big leap last season to reach the NBA Finals, before coming up short. But are the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs ready to really win it all, as constructed?
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report has proposed a blockbuster deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that would, as he says, make the Spurs "championship-ready." It would go down like this:
San Antonio Spurs Acquire:
- Trey Murphy III
- Dejounte Murray
New Orleans Pelicans Acquire:
- De'Aaron Fox
- Luke Kornet
- 2027 first-round pick (via ATL)
- 2028 first-round swap (via BOS)
- 2030 first-round pick
- 2031 first-round swap (via SAC)
- 2027 second-round pick
- 2028 second-round pick (NOP's own)
- 2029 second-round pick (NOP's own)
For the Spurs, this deal would be based on the assumption that Dylan Harper is ready to step into the starting backcourt in his sophomore year, after a thrilling rookie season and playoff run.
The 2025 second overall pick was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, and had a historic postseason, breaking the legendary David Robinson's long-standing franchise record for the most points scored by a rookie in a single Spurs playoff run.
Additonally, going without Fox would actually benefit the team, writes Hughes.
"San Antonio posted a plus-41.9 net rating when Victor Wembanyama played with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper while Fox sat out. That was significantly better than it performed with Harper and Fox or Castle and Fox while the third member of the guard trio rested."
All of that would free the Spurs up to trade Fox, along with a slew of picks, to obtain/re-obtain two legit stars in the league. Both Murphy III and Murray are proven, youngish veteran stars, with a combined five 20-point-per-game seasons between them. Murray was an All-Star in his first run with the Spurs a few years back. Here, though, he'd return as a combo third guard option in this hypothetical swap.
"In this deal, San Antonio clears the runway for Harper and Castle to fly, adds a deadly shooter with great size in Murphy and onboards an old friend in Murray who'll be far better suited for third-guard duties than Fox and his $50 million salary," Hughes writes.
Why the Pelicans would trade Murphy & Murray for Fox
As for the Pelicans, he sees Fox as a better fit as the lead guard.
"Fox was an All-Star last season and would be a veteran first option for a Pelicans team that seems committed to winning this year. That $50 million salary might sting, but New Orleans can bank on more production from him than it was going to get from Murray for $33 million."
But of course, the four first-round picks would be the real draw here for the Pels.
"If you view this as New Orleans getting three unprotected firsts for Murphy while swapping Murray for Fox, Kornet and another first-rounder, it checks out pretty well," Hughes concludes.
The Pelicans have steadfastly refused to trade Murphy, who has been hotly sought-after by teams around the league going back to the deadline in February. It would be intriguing to see if they'd consider it in a package like this.