2023-05-25 08:12:00
NBA
NBA: Without him, Wembanyama could never have joined the Spurs
Published on May 25, 2023 at 10:12 am
On May 16, the Lottery brought its share of happiness to San Antonio. The Texas franchise obtained the power to draft Victor Wembanyama on June 22, the result of long-term reflection. Indeed, it all started with Dejounte Murray’s trade in the offseason. The fullback, a former Spurs MVP, flew to Atlanta to give Gregg Popovich’s gang a chance for a brighter future.
After a poor regular season in 2022-23 (22 wins for 60 losses), the Spurs will be able to select Victor Wembanyama in the Draft next June since they inherited the first pick. The perfect scenario for the franchise which will therefore rebuild itself around the French interior. It must be said that everything had been done so that Saint Anthony finds himself high in the Draft, and we’re not just talking about the balance sheet of the men of Gregg Popovich. Internally too, we had been very active upstream, particularly with the trade in Dejounte Murray to Hawks last summer.
Destroy everything to rebuild
First of all, the Spurs could not harbor great ambitions with Murray as a franchise player. If he totally has his place in a team aiming for the NBA title, he absolutely does not have it as number 1. Like a Chris Middleton at the Buckshe probably represents the perfect man more as number 3. And this was a problem for Saint Anthony. In a reconstruction phase, the Spurs were looking for a real leader. A player capable of embodying the role of boss for the next decade and above all of aiming for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Build around Murray, at time T, therefore had no meaning. That’s why the 26-year-old full-back joined Trae Young To Atlanta.
“This guy is serious”
Eventually lose Murray allowed to Saint Anthony to tank for good and to offer The animal. On Twitter after the Lottery, the former protege of Popovich had fun with it: “If I am angry? Of course not ! If I had decided to stay, they wouldn’t have had the first pick so you should actually be thanking me! But I’m happy for SA fans! This guy (Wembanyama) is serious. »
It is effectively by separating from Dejounte Murray what Saint Anthony was able to dim his hopes of winning a lot of games. The rear was indeed the best Texan since he had completed the best season of his career in 2022, finishing All-Star with 21.1 points, 9.2 assists and 8.3 rebounds on average. Whether Murray had not gone to Atlantanot sure that the situation would have been the same today among the Spurs.
1685002652
#NBA #Wembanyama #joined #Spurs