Report: Hawks, Lakers have had ‘most substantive’ talks regarding Dejounte Murray
Just months after advancing to the Western Conference as one of the best No. 7 seeds in NBA History, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently a deadpan 22-22 and tied with the Utah Jazz for the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.
With just two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA Trade Deadline and LeBron James in the final year of his contract, the Lakers could be making a big push ahead of the deadline.
According to NBA Insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Lakers are doing their “due diligence” on multiple of the hottest names throughout the NBA, including Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. According to insider Marc Stein, while nothing’s imminent, the Hawks and Lakers have “engaged in the most substantive trade discussions” regarding Murray.
Murray, 27, is averaging 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 47.1/38.2/82.9 shooting splits. He’s currently in the final year of a $64 million deal, so his current $18.2 million isn’t impossible to move. But he signed a four-year, $114 million extension that will be $25.5 million next season per Spotrac. Thus, any team trading for him would need to be okay with that lack of future flexibility.
In theory, Murray could help bridge the gap between James (when he eventually departs) and soon-to-be 31-year-old star big man Anthony Davis. While Murray is nowhere near the player that James is at his peak, he is two years removed from his first All-Star appearance and could help Los Angeles remain competitive in the West.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves is reportedly “off limits” in trade discussions. So they would likely have to find a suitor for D’Angelo Russell–on the books for $17.3 million this year with an $18.7 million player option for next season, per Spotrac–to take on his salary if Atlanta does not want him.
The Lakers can only trade one first-round pick to Atlanta, so completing a three-team could be tough to navigate. But it’s still doable. Murray is a Klutch Sports client, and relationships from sports agencies really matter throughout the league, so it’s understandable why he would be attractive to James and Co.
Will Los Angeles land one of the best players on the trade market with the deadline looming? It remains to be seen, even though there is a path where it could be completed before another bidder (New York Knicks, Miami Heat, etc.) gets heavily involved
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