Trade Rumors: Knicks Any Closer to Dejounte Murray?

If the Atlanta Hawks opt to embrace rebuilding, the New York Knicks could swoop in for Dejounte Murray.

The New York Knicks made a big splash in the trade market this season when they traded for OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30.

The move has already paid dividends, with the Knicks rattling off five straight wins to start Anunoby's tenure. Still, New York (22-15) is reported to be interested in making more moves as they seek to become legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. One of the new favorites among insiders is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.

"New York is looking at various avenues to upgrade its point guard depth behind Jalen Brunson, sources said, while the Knicks also continue to evaluate center options because of Mitchell Robinson’s ankle surgery," a recent report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reads. "Although with Murray in favor of a fresh start, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, it seems questionable that adding the former All-Star to pair with another ball-dominant lead guard like Brunson would have much different results than Murray’s partnership with Young."

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This season, Murray is averaging 21.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 34.7 minutes per game. He has shot 46.6 percent from the field this season and an impressive 39.4 percent from three on 6.1 attempts per game. Atlanta (15-21) currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, the first team out of the Play-In Tournament. Murray could be one of the first to go if the team opts to embrace a full-on rebuild.

The Knicks have a flurry of first-round picks that could be available to trade, as well as 23-year-old guard Quentin Grimes. While New York's stash of young players was depleted by the Anunoby trade (which sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley to Toronto), Grimes could draw interest from the Hawks. Fischer's report said that Grimes' name previously surfaced when the Knicks traded for Cam Reddish in 2022, eventually sending over Kevin Knox instead.

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Anunoby and the Knicks return to action on Thursday night when they face the Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG).