The closer the deadline gets, the clearer it becomes that Dejounte Murray is the best player on the market. But perhaps he's too good for the Hawks to let go. Coach Quin Snyder has "lobbied" the team to not trade Murray, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Snyder's plea feels unlikely to take Murray off the board outright. Since teaming up with Trae Young, the pair has posted a minus-1.8 net rating across their 2,562 minutes of floor time, per PBP Stats. It's hard to imagine the front office feels more time is needed to make an assessment of this twosome.
Plus, in this limited trade market, Murray could (and should) command a premium. He remains the "top priority" for the Los Angeles Lakers, per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, and it stands to reason most other shoppers in the market for a difference-maker feel the same.
Dejounte Murray and AJ Griffin to the Los Angeles Lakers; Spencer Dinwiddie, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick (via LAL) to the Atlanta Hawks; D'Angelo Russell, a 2024 second-round pick (via LAC) and a 2025 second-round pick (via LAC) to the Brooklyn Nets
The Lakers are Murray's likeliest landing spot, provided they can ever find a third team to back Russell (who clearly isn't wanted in Atlanta). The Nets could be willing to do that, since they'd be getting a cheap price on a 27-year-old who previously booked an All-Star trip with them, plus a pair of second-round picks.
L.A., meanwhile, would get an overdue energy burst with this trade, not to mention the additional shot creation, ability to pressure the rim and point-of-attack defense this roster badly needs. If Murray's shooting holds up (he's averaging 2.3 three-pointers on 38.3 percent shooting), he'd be an easy fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers would also get Griffin and a chance to help the 20-year-old rediscover his three-and-D form.
While Atlanta only nabs a single first-round pick here, it is an unprotected future first from a franchise with myriad long-term questions hovering over it. Plus, Hood-Schifino was a top-20 pick last summer, and Christie was the 35th selection the offseason prior, so the Hawks would hope to have a couple of building blocks coming out of this deal. Dinwiddie would offer financial relief in the form of his expiring $18.9 million salary.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.
