If the Los Angeles Lakers want to sign Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks, they must give up Austin Reaves.
After Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times learned the Hawks’ asking price for Murray during their previous trade negotiations with a different team, that is the current attitude.
“Woike wrote on January 13 that NBA insiders claimed the Hawks discussed a Dejounte Murray trade with Atlanta in exchange for Immanuel Quickley and a first-round pick during their talks with the Knicks.
The Hawks hope to recover nearly all of the money they spent on Murray a season and a half ago. The San Antonio Spurs, who are also eager to reunite with their former All-Star guard, traded for Murray in exchange for three first-round picks, two of which were unprotected, and an unprotected pick swap.
“The Lakers can’t really meet the cost of acquiring Murray without Reaves if it involves a first-round pick and a young player who can win now (the Raptors chose to trade OG Anunoby to the Knicks in exchange for two of those players instead of a first-round pick). There haven’t been any talks about trading Reaves, according to sources, Woike wrote.
“The Lakers want to push the pace offensively and are interested in someone who can serve as a point-of-attack defender,” claims Chris Haynes of TNT/Bleacher Report.
If Austin Reaves is included in the Dejounte Murray trade, can the Lakers extend it?
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.
“It just gets really complicated, especially since Bobby Marks reminded me that the Lakers are already over the tax and getting close to the hard cap. These trades are more difficult to put together the more players you add, but with a player like Dejounte Murray, I believe the Hawks will legitimately argue that they need Austin Reaves and the Lakers will argue that that doesn’t seem like a great fit for them. It’s a really difficult place.
An alternative trade for Austin Reaves
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.
