As the NBA trade deadline approaches, it is known that the Los Angeles Lakers are actively pursuing a potential deal. One name that has been associated with them for a while is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.
It's no surprise that the Lakers are interested in Murray, as he checks a lot of boxes the team is looking for. He has improved his speed and athleticism in the backcourt, giving the team another scorer and creator, and showed last season that he can defend at a high level, improving greatly as a perimeter shooter.
No deal has been reached yet, but the Lakers appear to be working hard to get something done. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Los Angeles has made Murray the most aggressive offer available, including a first-round pick and a trade, but the Hawks are looking for more in return than D'Angelo Russell. It is said that there is
The Lakers appear to have made the most aggressive bid ever known for Murray. Los Angeles is willing to include a 2029 first-round pick and a pick swap to acquire the Hawks guard, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Sources say Atlanta is looking for a better return than Russell, and the Hawks are hoping not to take back any future salary, leaving the possibility of another three-team deal involving Russell before the deadline. What's left — after Russell joined the Lakers on loan — is the triple bottom of Utah, Minnesota and Los Angeles last February. Russell has an $18.6 million player option for next season, which will be factored into which team decides to acquire him from Ohio State.
Russell has been completely out of whack lately, but it's not enough to raise the trade value to the level the Hawks want, making finding a third team even more necessary. And given how aggressive the Lakers have been in trying to get a deal done, the front office will likely explore all options to get him involved in negotiations.
Murray is an ideal addition for the Lakers as he is only 27 years old and is under contract for at least three more seasons, making him a short- and long-term investment for the Lakers.
Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown at the forefront of Lakers trade talks
Dejounte Murray isn't the only player the Lakers are actively pursuing, the recently traded Bruce Brown is also a player the Lakers are targeting before the trade deadline.
Recent reports indicate that Murray and Brown are at the forefront of the Lakers' target list, and that discussions regarding both players will continue through the deadline.
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