With Pascal Siakam in a new home, Dejounte Murray is now the best player likely to be traded before the Feb. 8 deadline — and teams are lining up for him.
That includes the Lakers and Bucks, according to two recent reports.
Murray would provide another shot creator the Lakers can rely on next to LeBron James (and boost the offense when he is on the bench). D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves offer some of that now, but the Lakers are looking for someone at another level — Murray was an All-Star at the point in San Antonio before moving over to two guard with Trae Young in Atlanta. The hope is a return to his natural role at the one rejuvenates the 27-year-old, who can do things like this.
DEJOUNTE MURRAY WINS IT FOR THE HAWKS 🚨#TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness@TISSOT pic.twitter.com/65f9wDaGrc
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2024
What would the Lakers offer? From Jovan Buha at The Athletic:
The Lakers and Hawks have discussed potential frameworks of a deal, including a version late last week that centered on Russell, [Jalen] Hood-Schifino, the 2029 first-round pick and additional draft compensation, according to multiple team and league sources. Talks have since stalled, but are expected to pick back up closer to the deadline.
That trade doesn’t make a lot of sense for Atlanta — Russell is a worse version of Murray who would not fit next to Young, the 2029 pick is the real draw and it’s five years out — unless they can bring in a third team that takes on Russell and sends the Hawks other players that fit better, something Michael Scotto reported at Hoopshype. That seems a longshot, which is likely why talks have stalled, but if Murray wants to be in Los Angeles his agent will be searching for a third team.
The Milwaukee Bucks also are interested in landing Murray, reports Chris Haynes at Bleacher Report/TNT.
Milwaukee Bucks are among multiple teams who are registering interest in trading for Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. pic.twitter.com/vlWUIMDPIp
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 19, 2024
The problem for Milwaukee is that it’s even harder for them to construct a trade that would interest Atlanta than it is for Los Angeles. The Bucks are not deep and are not moving any of their top four (Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton or Brook Lopez) and don’t want to trade fan favorite and needed backup big Bobby Portis. That would leave the most likely trade offer being Pat Connaughton, Cameron Payne, one young player the Hawks like (MarJon Beauchamp?), plus a pick or picks. That is a terrible return from Atlanta’s perspective.
Miami reportedly is another team with interest in Murray and based on his Instagram story from before the Hawks played the Heat, that feeling may be mutual.
Dejounte Murray shows off the retired Heat jerseys on his latest IG post 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6utHClkfmP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 19, 2024
Beyond the Lakers, Bucks and Heat, there have been rumblings of interest in Murray from the 76ers, Nets and Pistons, although Detroit seems to be a real longshot. A return to San Antonio has been mentioned (they realize they need a real point guard next to Victor Wembanyama) and Murray reportedly would welcome that.
Murray will get traded before the deadline, Atlanta is ready to move on from this failed backcourt experiment, but where he lands is still very much up in the air.
