NBA Power Rankings Week 14: NBA trade deadline recap

NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Trade deadline recap

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

29. . 23-20. Previous: 13th. San Antonio Spurs. 18. team

Last Week: Lost to Charlotte Hornets 100-97, Lost to LA Clippers 134-101, Lost to LA Clippers 98-85, Beat Chicago Bulls 120-104

This Week: 3/29 at Golden State Warriors, 3/31 at Phoenix Suns, 4/2 at Utah Jazz

The San Antonio Spurs have started to slide, losers of four in a row and six of their last 10 games. The only move of note they made at the deadline was absorbing Marquese Chriss into the roster spot created by the buyout of LaMarcus Aldridge after a trade did not materialize for the former All-Star.

It was a noticeably bad week for Keldon Johnson, Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker IV. Johnson averaged just 8.3 points per game and shot 42.4 percent from the field. Walker appeared in one game and hit one of his three shots. Murray shot 41.8 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from long range and 50.0 percent from the charity stripe.

It is not surprising that the Spurs did not make a move of consequence. The Marquese Chriss trade is the first midseason move the Spurs have made since receiving Austin Daye from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Nando de Colo in February 2014. That is just not the prerogative for the Spurs. They value consistency and continuity. The young core will have better weeks than this and will look to make another playoff push after missing out for just the first time in decades last year.