Report: Hawks Want to Find A Third Team For D'Angelo Russell In A Potential Dejounte Murray-Lakers Trade

Will the Hawks trade Dejounte Murray before the trade deadline?

The NBA Trade Deadline is getting closer and the Dejounte Murray trade talks remain. The most popular landing spot for Murray, at least in reports and rumors, is the Los Angeles Lakers. Today, NBA insider Shams Charania had some information regarding a potential Murray deal: 

"The Lakers and Hawks did have some pretty extensive conversations about a Dejounte Murray trade a few weeks ago. It was centered around D'Angelo Russell and a 2029 first-round pick and a pick swap I am told. The holdup was the Hawks wanted to find a third team for D'Angelo Russell, he has a player option for next season and they want to find and maybe get an expiring contract back and I would expect the sides to circle back as we get closer to the trade deadline"

"The Lakers are doing their due diligence. Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown Jr., Tyus Jones, Terry Rozier, I'm told those are names to keep an eye on."@ShamsCharania on the Los Angeles Lakers.

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— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 22, 2024

I have written since the Lakers and Murray rumors started that I thought the only way the Hawks did a deal with the Lakers was if it was a three-team deal. Russell is not a fit for the Hawks and I have been skeptical that they would want him on the team. 

The report from Charania lines up with what has been rumored in the past few weeks. 

Last week according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, who covers the Lakers, "The Murray buzz is only increasing — and to noisy levels. The Lakers and Hawks have discussed potential frameworks of a deal, including a version late last week that centered on Russell, 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."

You can read the full piece here. 

Hawks Dejounte Murray / Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

To me, this is not the kind of trade that the Hawks need to make. D'Angelo Russell is possibly the worst fit imaginable next to Trae Young, Hood-Schifino is an intriguing player, but the Hawks had a chance to take him in this year's draft and chose not to. The draft compensation is ok, but only one pick is not going to get the Hawks anywhere. I have said from the beginning I think the only way Murray goes to the Lakers is in a three-team deal and I still feel that way. Los Angeles does not have a lot of valuable trade assets that are available and the ones they do have are considered untouchable. I am not saying a deal with the Lakers won't happen, but that kind of deal does not make sense to me and I don't think it helps Atlanta.

Stay tuned for more of the latest on Dejounte Murray. 

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