3-Team Trade That Returns Dejounte Murray to the San Antonio Spurs

Less than two years ago, the San Antonio Spurs traded Dejounte Murray (along with Jock Landale) to the Atlanta Hawks for Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks and a first-round pick swap.

Now, after the backcourt with Murray and Trae Young has failed to develop much chemistry (the team is minus-1.5 points per 100 possessions in the 2,000-plus minutes those two have shared the floor), Murray's name is stuck in the trade rumor mill again.

And one of the more surprising teams he's been connected to is...the Spurs.

In the wake of those rumors, Murray reportedly said he'd "welcome" such a deal, as coach Gregg Popovich has been like a "father figure" to him.

Atlanta might have to eat a little humble pie in sending Murray back to San Antonio, but there's at least one trade framework that makes sense. You'll see that on the next slide.

For the Spurs, it's really not hard to wrap your head around their interest. Moving Murray helped them land Victor Wembanyama, and they could now use some more dynamic point guard play to, well, spur his development.

So, what kind of deal would put Murray back in San Antonio while also satisfying the Hawks?

Scroll below to find out.

As has become tradition with these three- or four-team trade articles, let's lay out all the details of the trade before we dive into the specific reasons for each team to make the deal.

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Pascal Siakam and Devonte' Graham

Atlanta Hawks Lose: Dejounte Murray, D'Andre Hunter, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap and the opportunity to get a first-round pick (or picks) from San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs Receive: Dejounte Murray and Garrett Temple

San Antonio Spurs Lose: Doug McDermott, Devonte' Graham and a 2026 first-round pick (for Murray, which Atlanta would re-route to Toronto)

Toronto Raptors Receive: De'Andre Hunter, Doug McDermott, a 2026 first-round pick from San Antonio, a 2029 first-round pick from Atlanta and a 2030 first-round pick swap with Atlanta

Toronto Raptors Lose: Pascal Siakam and Garrett Temple

Feel free to quibble over some of the smaller contracts or picks involved here. The big-money pieces like Murray and Pascal Siakam are obviously most important. But I also don't expect you to be convinced by the framework alone.

The explanations for every team saying yes are below.

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Pascal Siakam and Devonte' Graham

Atlanta Hawks Lose: Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap and the opportunity to get a first-round pick (or picks) from San Antonio

The Hawks' rumored interest in Siakam goes at least as far back as this past summer, and this deal would finally land him in Atlanta while also jumping the Hawks ahead of an Eastern Conference foe in line.

On Tuesday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Indiana Pacers were closing in on a trade for Siakam that might include three first-rounders, but if Toronto wasn't looking for anyone to beat that, the deal would already be done.

Now is Atlanta's opportunity to strike. And with some help from the Spurs, the Hawks can at least get close to the reported pick haul from Indiana. If the Raptors tighten the screws, Atlanta and San Antonio might be willing to up the haul.

But this slide is more about why the Hawks would do this trade, and that's really not that hard to explain.

Sure, this is a lot of draft consideration for Siakam, especially since he's on an expiring contract and reportedly not committing to re-sign with any new suitors this summer. But Atlanta is in a deep rut, and Siakam is undoubtedly an upgrade over Hunter.

Over the last five seasons, he's averaged 22.8 points and 4.8 assists. And while his 33.1 three-point percentage over that span leaves a little something to be desired, the Hawks can surround him with Young, Bogdan Bogdanović and Jalen Johnson.

A starting five with those four and Clint Capela is bigger and better balanced than the one currently featuring Murray.

This trade also lands the Hawks a potentially solid backup point guard in Devonte' Graham. He hasn't played much this season, but that could be more about San Antonio's rebuild than Graham's abilities. For his career, he's averaged 4.4 assists and 2.3 threes in just 25.3 minutes. And with Murray heading out, Atlanta could use a little backcourt depth.

San Antonio Spurs Receive: Dejounte Murray and Garrett Temple

San Antonio Spurs Lose: Doug McDermott, Devonte' Graham and a 2026 first-round pick (for Murray, which Atlanta would re-route to Toronto)

The Spurs have already seemingly abandoned (or at least put on hold) one experiment for the sake of Wembanyama's development.

After playing him at the 4 for much of the early portion of their schedule, they've moved Wemby to center, where he's been legitimately dominant.

Since December 8 (when Zach Collins left the starting lineup), Wembanyama has put up 20.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 3.6 assists and 0.9 steals in just 26.6 minutes. That's absurd production, especially when you consider the ongoing no-point guard experiment.

On the season, he's played 420 minutes with either of Tre Jones or Graham on the floor. His true shooting percentage in those minutes is 61.1. He's played 552 minutes with both of those guards off the floor, and his true shooting percentage in those lineups is 50.5.

Bringing Murray back to increase those minutes when Wembanyama plays with a real distributor is a no-brainer. The Hawks guard averaged 9.2 assists in his last season with the Spurs. And in the season and change he's been with Atlanta, he's averaging 7.6 assists per 75 possessions when Young is off the floor. He can still set up teammates and get them the ball in positions to score.

And while it's too late for any kind of trade to push San Antonio toward the play-in mix, Murray is on a pretty team-friendly contract through 2027-28 (when he has a $31.6 million player option). Having him around for the next few years will boost Wembanyama's production and expedite his development.

Temple, meanwhile, is here largely for salary-matching purposes and the need for every team to be connected in a three-team trade, but his experience wouldn't hurt in a third-stringer's role.

All of that for a couple veterans role players and one first-rounder feels like a win for San Antonio, especially since the Spurs would still be in the black on total picks dating back to the Murray trade. In fact, if any team might need to kick in a little more draft consideration here, it might be the Spurs. And they can probably justify it.

Toronto Raptors Receive: De'Andre Hunter, Doug McDermott, a 2026 first-round pick from San Antonio, a 2029 first-round pick from Atlanta and a 2030 first-round pick swap with Atlanta

Toronto Raptors Lose: Pascal Siakam and Garrett Temple

Again, Indiana may be offering three firsts, and there's little indication whether those are protected or swaps. Buddy Hield potentially being in that deal would make it mighty enticing for Toronto too.

The Raptors need shooting around cornerstone Scottie Barnes, and few shooters in history are as good as Hield.

Given all of that, San Antonio and Atlanta may have to grease this trade's skids with more draft consideration.

But in a vacuum, and after seeing what Toronto got for OG Anunoby, this is a good deal.

Picking up Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett instead of picks for Anunoby suggested the Raptors are interested in slightly more proven talent over swings in the draft. And while 26-year-old Hunter is older than both of those players, he's younger than Hield, bigger than Hield and not too shabby as a catch-and-shoot option himself. Since the start of 2021-22, Hunter has hit 37.0 percent of his three-point attempts.

McDermott, of course, helps on the shooting front too, but he's here more as a salary-matcher. The 32-year-old specialist is on an expiring contract, so Toronto can let him walk in the offseason if he doesn't look like a necessary fixture of the rebuild. It could also probably get him on a relatively cheap deal if it wants shooting and experience to help all the younger talent.

But ultimately, this end of the deal may come down to the number of picks. As is, this trade sort of accomplishes two goals for the Raptors, giving them both a young(ish) talent and a few swings at the draft. But there's not as much of the former as there was in the Anunoby trade, and the Pacers are looming, so another pick or two may be needed.