By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being linked to the San Antonio Spurs, Danilo Gallinari will be indeed included in a trade sending Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks.
Gallinari, 33, was on the verge of being moving out via trade, as reported by Zach Klein of WSB Monday. A couple of days later, the deal was confirmed by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski identifying three first-round draft picks in 2023, 2025, and 2027, and a pick swap in 2026 as the additional compensation to the Spurs.
All four moves of the Italian player throughout the last 14 years in the NBA have been on trades. The Hawks acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to start the 2020-21 season. The Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks are his other former teams since the 2008-09 season.
Coming off a three-year stint as a member of Italy powerhouse Olimpia Milano and evolving into a starter in the 2007-08 season of the EuroLeague, Gallinari was selected with the sixth overall pick of the 2008 NBA draft by the Knicks. He has since logged 776 games played in the NBA with career averages of 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest.
Currently, on a partially guaranteed contract for the 2022-23 season, his future plans can potentially include a return to Italy to conclude playing days. Immediate plans are highlighted by playing for the Italy national team during the offseason, including the 2022 EuroBasket with the team led by head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco hosting Group C of the preliminary round in Milan.
The Spurs moving out Murray secures key assets for the future of the organization.
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