Lakers linked to new All-Star on trade market
Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers could be making a trade for an Atlanta Hawks star … not named Trae Young.
Appearing Tuesday on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Shams Charania of The Athletic shared an interesting note about the Lakers. Charania says Hawks guard Dejounte Murray is a player to keep an eye on as a potential trade target for the purple and gold.
"One more player to keep an eye on I'm told, a potential target for the Lakers, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray."@ShamsCharania on potential trade targets for the Lakers.
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/xtY6gCF2FO
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 26, 2023
Murray, an All-Star in 2022, is just entering his prime at 27 years old. He chips in significantly on both ends of the floor and is averaging 20.3 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as a secondary option in Atlanta.
While Murray is about to begin a new four-year, $114 million contract extension in 2024, the Lakers have some salaries to match with D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves all agreeing to sizable new contracts this past summer as well. Murray is also represented by Klutch Sports. That is the same agency that represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and numerous other Lakers (creating an interesting dynamic for Murray with other teams too).
The Lakers are clearly seeking an upgrade in the backcourt, especially with the latest bit of bad injury news that they just got. Though they have been linked to Chicago’s Zach LaVine and the fellow Hawks guard Young as well, Murray is the best defender of the bunch and might be the most inexpensive to trade for.
