It seemed as though the Los Angeles Lakers had changed their minds.
The Lakers are no longer that keen on trading D’Angelo Russell for Dejounte Murray, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Such a deal is currently “unrealistic,” according to Stein.
In exchange for Murray, the Lakers were reportedly prepared to give Russell a 2029 first-round pick and a first-round pick swap, with Austin Reaves being strictly off-limits. With Russell playing so well, it seems like that pursuit has been scaled back a bit, according to Stein’s January 28 substack newsletter.
Russell, whose worth was essentially nonexistent during the prior talks between the Lakers and the Hawks, has significantly changed the story.
Russell’s excellent play has helped the Lakers, who are on the rise, win five of their past eight games. Russell has averaged 27.5 points and 6.4 assists per game since returning to the starting lineup eight games ago. He also shoots 54.2% from the 3-point range and 52.3% from the field.
The Hawks had previously desired a third team to sign Russell, a 27-year-old with a player option worth $18.6 million for the upcoming campaign. With Russell finally revealing his “superpower,” which enabled the Lakers to turn around their fortunes, things have quickly changed.
In the Lakers’ 145-144 double overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors, Russell scored 28 points and dished out five assists. On Monday, January 29, he will look to build on that performance against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers can move two games above.500 with a third straight victory.
Lakers Ready to move Austin Reaves in place of Lauri Markannen
The Lakers have kept Austin Reaves off limits in the previous Murray trade talks despite the Hawks’ interest. He is virtually untouchable. And Reaves’ status could only change if the Lakers have a deal that is too good to pass up.
“The longer answer is more nuanced,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha wrote on January 26. “There are players the Lakers would include him in deals to acquire. If they could add a bona fide third star to complement [Lebron] James and [Anthony] Davis – Utah All-Star Lauri Markannen, for example – or multiple high-level starters in a bigger trade, they would consider moving Reaves.
Reaves is now the fourth-best player on the Lakers due to Russell’s comeback over the last eight games. Reaves is averaging 49/34/88 from the field with 15.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds.
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