Danilo Gallinari Has Left the Spurs for the Celtics
The San Antonio Spurs have waived Danilo Gallinari (Photo via USA TODAY Sports)
When the San Antonio Spurs traded away Dejounte Murray and Jock Landale, one of the assets they received in exchange from the Atlanta Hawks was combo forward Danilo Gallinari. It comes as no surprise that Gallinari will not remain with the Spurs. The team has already sent him on his way, and he has found a new home with the Boston Celtics.
The Spurs Waived Danilo Gallinari
It was logical for the Spurs to waive Gallinari. The Spurs needed to increase and maximize cap space, and releasing him was a way to do that. Furthermore, the Spurs are in full rebuild mode and Gallinari who is 33 years old does not fit the narrative. Now Spurs have more flexibility in their budget for how they will approach their development and shaping the future..
Gallinari, meanwhile, signed a two-year contract with the Celtics. With his averages of 11.7 points, 1.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, he should be a solid asset for the Celtics, at least for the short term (he has a second year player option as part of his contract). While there, he will have a chance to play alongside former Spurs player Derrick White. He will also be coached by Ime Udoka, who used to wear the Silver and Black as well.
What Else Did the Spurs Get When They Traded Away Murray?
While the Spurs already parted ways with Danilo Gallinari, he was obviously not the only asset they received when they traded Murray. They also got three first-round picks as well as a first-round pick swap. As incredible as Murray has become, the reality is that he was a fringe All-Star and was not going to lead the Spurs to championship level contention.
Looking to the immediate future, we can expect Joshua Primo and Tre Jones to take on leadership roles now that Murray has left a vacuum behind. The team likely faces a chaotic and rough time rebuilding this season. But the Spurs made this trade with the long view in mind, so fans will need to be patient as things evolve.