It's time for Spurs to reconsider value of Atlanta's draft picks

When the Spurs traded Dejounte Murray to the Hawks for a king's ransom in draft capital, the move was seen as an overwhelming win. That point of view was only strengthened when Atlanta moved Murray to the Pelicans in the offseason without getting much in return. It was an admission that the acquisition wasn't worth it.

Meanwhile, San Antonio is holding several first-round picks for an organization that looked like it was headed for a rebuild. Unfortunately, rumors of ATL's demise were greatly exaggerated. The Peach State's hoops representative has been having a solid season, hovering at .500, lessening the value of the 2025 first-rounder with each win. Spurs GM Brian Wright should adjust his strategy as a result.

Spurs should be willing to trade Hawks first-round picks

Atlanta is 5-5 in their last ten games, so they've hit a bit of a skid since their hot streak, but one of their best players, Jalen Johnson, has missed a few games due to shoulder inflammation. He's expected to return soon, returning the Hawks their 20 ppg scorer and versatile defender. More wins could follow his return, further devaluing the pick.

If that pick was destined to land in the top ten, it would be worth hoarding, but if there's a good deal to be had by including it, the Spurs shouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger and that's exactly what Spurs beat writer, Jeff Garcia explained on the Locked on Spurs podcast.

San Antonio will have a pick of their own and a good chance for the Hornets or Bulls picks to convey. If they really want a chance to draft multiple players, they could still wind up with that option. However, as Garcia's co-host said, the plan can't be to just keep drafting guys. That pushes the timeline back further than it needs to be.

Victor Wembanyama is already getting MVP nods, and if they finish with more than 40 wins, he'll get real votes. There's no denying how great the reigning Rookie of the Year is in his second season. There aren't many players in the NBA right now that you'd take on your team over him. He's too impactful on both sides of the floor.

Draft picks don't play basketball. Players do. There's no telling where the picks will land, who will be available, and how they'll pan out. San Antonio has been drafting guys for years who look like they'll be off the team before long, so adding young guys to develop isn't always the right way to go.

The draft is always a gamble. The Silver and Black have their superstar talent of the future, but this roster needs help. Now, the focus should be getting proven players on the team who can play their roles at a high level. It doesn't matter where they come from, but logic and the history of champions in the league tell us that they won't all be from the draft. So, let's play: let's make a deal.