Hawks GM Landry Fields Comments on Whether the Trae Young/Dejounte Murray Will Work out for the Hawks

Will Murray and Young be a viable pairing for the franchise going forward?

Despite the Hawks being one of the most prominently rumored teams leading up to the trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks decided to not make any moves and move forward with the team they have for the rest of the regular season. While things might be revisited in the summer, Atlanta is hoping to make a playoff push with the team they had and then make another determination about the roster in the summer. 

Today, Hawks GM Landry Fields held a press conference to discuss the Hawks trade deadline, and the pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray was brought up. Fields was asked about the viability of the pairing going forward and about the numbers suggesting that the pairing was not working and this is what he had to say: 

"The sample size is getting larger and larger and larger and assuming you're looking at specific lineups, and defensive and offensive ratings, which can always be debated as well. 

Yeah, you're starting to see that more and more. And yeah I can't lie to you, the numbers speak to themselves on that. 

But we're also interested in, well, let's say they are on the court together, and based off the numbers, its not working out. 

Why is that? What are things we can do for them in the developmental aspect to make it look more like the on/off lineups I'm assuming that you're looking at? And ultimately that lays something out that is measurable.

Those are things now that from a development standpoint that you can look at and say 'Ok, can you progress in those areas?'

If you can't, then yeah, those are times like that- I'm not saying that's exactly how it is going to happen - with any player where you have to consider the changes that everyone would then be asking and looking for at the end of the day."

Landry Fields, to @ksugiuraajc, on whether or not the pairing of Trae and Dejounte would work out out, and on the numbers on the sample size to date not looking great: pic.twitter.com/JITPwXx9zw

— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) February 9, 2024

This is going to be a hotly debated issue for the Hawks going forward. 

Murray was the player that was most prominently featured in trade rumors, but ultimately no deal was struck. The next few months feel like it is going to be the determining factor in whether or not Murray and Young will work out long-term for the franchise. 

Hawks GM Landry Fields / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Since he arrived, Murray and Young have not seen the type of success that the franchise envisioned when it traded away lots of draft capital to land him. Murray is having the best offensive season of his career this year, but the defense has not been what the Hawks have needed or what they had hoped for when trading for him. 

If the Hawks can finish strong and make a playoff push, maybe Fields and the front office make changes elsewhere on the roster while keeping Murray and Young together. If not, everything might be on the table for Atlanta. 

Let's see how the rest of the season plays out in Atlanta. 

The 2024 NBA Trade Deadline Has Come and Gone and The Atlanta Hawks Are Standing Pat

Follow Jackson on X here: @jacksoncauell

Follow Hawks coverage on Facebook here: All Hawks