According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks is the Los Angeles Lakers’ top priority.
Buha spoke about the Lakers’ pursuit of Murray on the HoopsHype podcast with Michael Scotto.
“From my understanding, Dejounte Murray is their priority right now,” Buha said. “To me, he’d be the most likely trade outcome right now if I was handicapping the odds. I think they’re the favorites to land him. Again, the big hurdle right now is finding that third team.”
The major hurdle for the Lakers in acquiring Murray is finding a third team to take on D’Angelo Russell. The Hawks are not interested in landing Russell.
The Lakers are willing to trade Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft picks to the Hawks for Murray, who has the same agent as LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Atlanta is widely anticipated to trade Murray before the February 8 trade deadline.
The Hawks are looking to acquire two first-round picks and a starting-level player for Murray, who is averaging 21.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 46.8% from the field, 38.7% from 3 and 83.5% from the free-throw line. The Seattle native and Washington product is making $17.7 million.
The Lakers are 22-23 on the season. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. Head coach Darvin Ham could start Murray, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron and Davis if Los Angeles’ front office acquired Murray from Atlanta.
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million extension with the Hawks last summer. He holds career averages of 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs and Hawks. Murray made the 2017-18 All-Defensive Second Team and won the 2021-22 steals title with the Spurs.
