Dejounte Murray is the most effective participant that’s at the moment out there on the commerce market. The Lakers are the workforce most in want of a expertise improve.
On the floor, a commerce between the 2 sides make sense. So why hasn’t it occurred but?
This is the framework of the latest deal that has been mentioned, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, together with what either side are doubtless occupied with the commerce.
Why Lakers say sure and no: Dejounte Murray to Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, prospects package deal
The commerce
Murray and Wesley Matthews for D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round choose, and 4 second spherical picks.
Why this commerce
Russell is the probably Laker to exit, attributable to his wage. He is performed higher as of late, however Murray would certainly be an improve.
Austin Reaves would additionally make sense from an identical wage perspective, and the Hawks would quite have him. However he is develop into too good for the Lakers to half with.
Hood-Schifino, the No. 17 choose within the 2023 draft, is among the few younger property with commerce worth that the Lakers have. They’re additionally throwing in all the picks they’ve out there on this proposal to make it as tempting as potential for the Hawks.
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Why the Lakers say sure
The Lakers desperately want to enhance their offense, which is ranked 20th within the league.
Murray is averaging 21.four factors per sport for the Hawks. He is a very good shot creator and pick-and-roll operator who has been glorious all through his profession from the midrange. A more recent improvement is his 3-point shot — he is connecting on 37 % of these seems, which might actually bolster a Laker offense ranked 28th in made 3’s. He might take a number of the pressure off LeBron James whereas additionally with the ability to play off the ball.
Murray can be a a lot better defender than Russell. Whereas he is not fairly at his All-Defensive workforce stage of 2018, he can maintain his personal in a matchup. Russell, alternatively, has been focused so completely in playoff sequence that he hasn’t been in a position to keep on the ground.
Murray can be on an amazing deal going ahead. He’ll begin a 4 yr, $114 million extension subsequent season beginning at $24.eight million per yr. For a former All-Star getting into his prime years, that could be a cut price.
Why the Lakers say no
Even with Murray on this workforce, is that this sufficient to get them deeper than their Western Convention Finals run of final season? The workforce is barely above .500, and this transfer mortgages their future much more.
If the Lakers do determine to play the yr out with out making a deal like this, then they don’t seem to be successful a championship. However they are going to have three first-round picks to commerce after the draft, and so they can goal a greater participant than Murray if one turns into out there.
Russell has additionally been on fireplace recently, averaging 23.6 factors per sport since Jan. 11. Possibly they journey this out and see if he can maintain that tempo up.
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Would the Hawks even log out on this?
It hasn’t even been two full seasons because the Hawks traded three first-round picks and a choose swap for Murray. Getting such a low return again for him at this level can be a really robust tablet to swallow. However they wish to transfer him, and this can be the most effective supply on the market.
Murray and Trae Younger have not labored as properly collectively as Atlanta had hoped. The Hawks have been taking part in higher recently, but nonetheless discover themselves in 10th place within the East. They should retool and attempt to type a greater workforce round their All-Star guard.
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Getting Russell again additionally complicates issues. He does not make a ton of sense subsequent to Younger and Bogdan Bogdanovic — his protection can be too problematic. The Hawks would doubtless need to discover a third workforce to take him on.
Hood-Schifino has barely performed for the Lakers this season. The case for him is that he has nice dimension on the guard place and will probably be a pleasant two-way participant. If he hits, he would look nice subsequent to Younger.
Although that is all that the Lakers can realistically supply with out throwing Reaves within the deal, this seems like a state of affairs the place the Hawks say no. They’ve by no means been one to drag a fast set off. John Collins is a good instance — after perpetually being on the commerce block, the workforce needed to basically give him away to the Jazz.
Except they’re significantly excessive on Hood-Schifino or can discover a third workforce for Russell, Atlanta most likely seems for higher affords in the summertime.
