The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks have reportedly discussed a possible trade for two-way guard Dejounte Murray, according to a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. With Atlanta continuing to struggle, rumors about Murray have been circulating for weeks. This most recent update shows that the negotiations have been moving along steadily.
“Dejounte Murray is available for trade by Atlanta. They’re prepared to move on from it, but they’ve given the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray backcourt some time,” stated Woj. “The player they are most engaged to in the league is Dejounte Murray. They have discussed possible trade options and had a conversation with the Lakers.”
Murray is undoubtedly the Los Angeles Lakers’ most plausible target at this moment as their defeats start to mount and the likelihood of a deal before the February deadline rises. However, it’s still unclear what the Lakers are prepared to give up in exchange for Murray and whether or not his presence alone will be sufficient to improve the team this year.
For the Lakers, Everyone Is On The Table
There was general consensus that the Lakers would contend for a championship this season following their journey to the Conference Finals the previous year. That simply hasn’t happened thus far, as the Lakers have a 19-20 lead after the first half of play. The Lakers’ primary worry, aside from a few issues with the coaching staff, is depth. The supporting cast of the modern Lakers is insufficient to maintain winning basketball, which places further pressure on LeBron James and Anthony Davis. This is a recurrent problem for the team.
The biggest indication yet that the Lakers club may look drastically different by the trade deadline is the fact that everyone this season save James, Davis, and Austin Reaves appears to be open to trade negotiations. The Lakers will undoubtedly be active in their pursuit of talent, and Dejounte Murray is possibly the greatest option for them to change things up without making a significant setback.
Dejounte Murray Is A Revolutionary
Dejounte Murray appeared to be a future star for the Spurs when he was selected 29th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Despite signing a four-year, $120 million agreement, Murray has fallen short of expectations since moving to Atlanta. Therefore, even if Murray’s tenure in Atlanta has been incredibly disappointing, he might be a player who benefits from a change of scenery. Murray might have the breakout season we’ve been waiting for in a new setting with new teammates and a new coaching staff.
