As the Atlanta Hawks try to clear out their other large salaries, the Los Angeles Lakers may be able to extend a possible trade for Dejounte Murray at a lower cost.
John Hollinger of The Athletic, a former Memphis Grizzlies front-office executive, claims that the Hawks may use Murray as a lure to let go of either De’Andre Hunter or Clint Capela.
On January 14, Hollinger wrote, “League sources say the Hawks have had ongoing chatter on potential Murray deals.” “Some will tell you they’re almost there, but others will argue the Hawks are still trying to figure out how much they can get for him and other important players (like Hunter and Capela).”
The Hawks’ efforts to strengthen their team have also been hampered by the unduly optimistic extensions for Capela (who has one more year left at $22.2 million) and Hunter (who has three more years remaining at a total of $70 million). The possibility that Murray’s contract could be used as leverage to force Capela or, more specifically, Hunter into a deal makes trading him mere months after he accepted a four-year, $114 million extension alluring.
However, there’s little chance that they’ll get anything comparable to what they gave up to get him.
According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, during their prior trade negotiations with the Knicks, the Hawks demanded Immanuel Quickley and a first-round pick.
The Toronto Raptors valued Quickley at the equivalent of two first-round picks, so that’s pretty much what they gave up in exchange for three first-round picks and a pick swap.
The Lakers might be able to negotiate a deal without having to give up Austin Reaves if they absorb Hunter’s contract.
The Alternate Trade Option for Lakers
NBA front office insider Bobby Marks offered Rob Pelinka an alternate trade option if the Hawks insist on trading Reaves for Murray without receiving more value.
“If I were the Lakers, I would inquire about Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, but such a trade might require the loss of Austin Reaves. Caruso has one of the better contracts, and DeRozan may become a free agent.
When Caruso returns, the Lakers’ perimeter defensive problems might be resolved. DeRozan would provide the team with a third scoring punch.
The Bulls haven’t said that Caruso is available, though.
If the Hawks are determined to acquire Reaves back in the probable Murray deal, an NBA executive presented ESPN’s Zach Lowe with an expanded trade proposal.
“Yesterday, January 11, I had a spitball conversation with an NBA executive from a different team. If Reaves is involved, could the Lakers work out a better deal to acquire Bogdan Bogdanovich, the much-needed sharpshooter, and Dejounte Murray? Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, additional draft compensation, and Jalen Hood-Schifino have to be a part of that, Lowe stated on “NBA Today” on January 12.
In any in-season trade, the Lakers are only allowed to offer one first-round pick (2029) and three pick swaps (2026, 2028, and 2030).
The key to a possible Murray trade is Reaves, the player the Hawks are vying for on the Lakers roster.
Alder Almo writes about basketball for Heavy, covering the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks. He has worked in print, broadcast, and digital media for more than 15 years, both domestically and internationally. In the past, he covered the NBA for Off the Glass and the Knicks for Empire Sports Media. Alder currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, but he was born in the Philippines. Details regarding Alder Almo
