As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Lakers have been associated with several All-Star players. However, Atlanta Hawks point guard Dejounte Murray is the one that has garnered the most attention in regards to a possible deal.
Although there have been discussions between the two parties over a possible deal’s framework, nothing has materialized as of yet. Although there have been some problems, Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell was supposed to be the major player leaving Los Angeles.
The Lakers and Hawks are unable to complete their transaction because Atlanta needs to find a third team to acquire Russell, according to NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Shams on Dejounte Murray trade talks to LA a couple weeks ago
“It centered around D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 first round draft pick, and a pick swap I’m told. The hold up was that Atlanta wanted to find a third team for D’Angelo Russell.”
pic.twitter.com/kgOojeTSEy— joe schmidt (@Joe_Schmidt07) January 22, 2024
How can Murray impact the Lakers?
Murray signing with the Lakers would be a game-changer. This team would benefit immensely from his ability to both score points and defend the point of attack.
He could take over as point guard, which is his more comfortable position, and assist in running the show. Murray might be a fantastic third option for this team and would relieve some of LeBron James’ workload by controlling the offense.
The main criticism directed on Murray is his patchy three-point shooting. He has, however, hit a career-high 38.2% of his shots from beyond the arc this season.
Although Russell has improved greatly this season when it comes to shooting the ball, Murray is superior to Russell in practically every other area.
Murray might be the Lakers’ future focal point because he is still only 27 years old. If the combination doesn’t work out, they could always trade him for more draft money during the summer or the following season.
For this squad, making this move is practically a no-brainer, and it will increase their chances of winning the championship this year. Though it sounds like the deal might eventually go through, we all simply need to be patient for the time being.