Lakers Rumors: Dejounte Murray Trade Plans Hit A Big Snag for LA

January 29, 2024 ,


 As if the recent red-hot performance of D'Angelo Russell hasn't already thrown some cold water on the potential Dejounte Murray trade, we now have another big wrench in the plans that could prevent Murray from wearing the Purple & Gold: Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder doesn't want to lose him:

League sources have told NBA insider Marc Stein that Snyder has lobbied the Hawks front office to keep Murray in the ATL.

The Hawks and the Lakers have been discussing a Murray trade for some time now, and it seemed that all that stood in the way was finding a third team to take on L.A. Point guard D’Angelo Russell, as the Hawks weren’t interested in him in return. Russell has a player option for next season worth $18.7 million, and Atlanta did not want to take that on.

Murray, whose four year, $120 million contract extension kicks in next season, is having another fine season with the Hawks, averaging 21.4 points, five rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals while playing his usual solid two-way game, and it seems like Snyder is reluctant to give up just yet on the backcourt of Dejounte and Trae Young. The Hawks, however, are just 19–27 this season and it appears that the front office is ready to move on from that experiment.

Meanwhile, all the trade talk has fired up D’Lo in L.A., who has really ratcheted up his game of late: in his last eight contests with the Lakers, Russell has been averaging 27.5 points, 6.4 assists, 2.4 boards, and shooting a ridiculous 54.2% from the three-point line. 

All of this could lead the Lakers to up the ante in their pursuit of their second choice target at the deadline, but it will take a pretty penny to pry a former NBA champion loose from the Toronto Raptors.

Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports




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