Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine's Top Landing Spots After Pascal Siakam Traded to Pacers

One of the top players on the trade market has been moved, as the Toronto Raptors reportedly sent star forward Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

That leaves Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray and Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine as the two of the best options available prior to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, but it's unclear where either of them will land.

For Murray, the top destinations appear to be the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs or Brooklyn Nets. LaVine would be a solid fit with the Lakers, but he also could be an attractive option for the Philadelphia 76ers or Sacramento Kings. We'll take a deeper dive into the possible landing spots for both players.

Dejounte Murray

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball during the first half of a game against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on January 07, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Murray is a talented combo guard who can impact the floor at both ends, and he's been coveted as a trade target for much of this season. He's played in all 39 games for Atlanta and is averaging 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals.

After the Spurs traded him to the Hawks prior to the 2022-23 season, it was expected that he would pair with Trae Young to create a formidable backcourt duo. However, Andcape's Marc J. Spears reported on Tuesday that the Hawks "have come to the realization" that the pairing of Murray and Young "isn't working."

The Spurs have been rumored to be interested in bringing Murray back just 18 months after trading him away. His experience and leadership would be welcome on a young San Antonio team that is led by 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Having a capable floor general who can create for himself and others would work wonders for Wembanyama's continued development.

The Lakers have also been linked to Murray as they search for roster upgrades that would help them keep pace in the competitive Western Conference. Murray's presence would bring an injection of youth and energy to an aging team led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He would be able to take over the ball-handling and facilitating duties from James and help open up more opportunities for him and Davis to be their most dominant.

Spears listed the Nets among the teams that are believed to be "intrigued" by acquiring Murray. Brooklyn could use an upgrade at the point guard position over veteran Spencer Dinwiddie. Acquiring Murray would give the Nets a promising backcourt combination, as he and Mikal Bridges would arguably become the best defensive duo in the league.

Zach LaVine

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 10: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second half against the Houston Rockets at the United Center on January 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

LaVine has been limited to 24 games due to a foot injury, and his average of 20.0 points is his lowest since his first season with the Bulls in 2017-18.

Still, he's one of the best wing players in the league, and he should thrive if he gets to move on from a losing situation in Chicago.

In November, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports listed the Lakers and Sixers as two of LaVine's preferred landing spots. Both teams are hoping to contend for a title, but they both need an extra boost if they hope to get past the elite teams in their respective conferences.

The Lakers have been floundering since they won the inaugural In-Season Tournament championship, so it's clear that they have a few holes to fill in their rotation. LaVine is a capable scorer who can be a reliable third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. While his defense leaves much to be desired, LaVine's prowess on the other end would instantly turn Los Angeles into a high-powered offense.

While reigning MVP Joel Embiid is the engine that powers the Sixers, he could use some help to get over the hump in the playoffs, as he's never advanced past the conference semifinals. Rising point guard Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a dependable second option, so his improvement this year could hinder Philadelphia's pursuit of LaVine. However, adding the two-time All-Star would surely give the Sixers more confidence in their chances to make a deeper postseason run this year.

The Kings could turn out to be the most intriguing landing spot for LaVine, as the team has not been shy about looking for another star player. Sacramento has a stellar duo in De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, so adding LaVine on the wing would give the team a bona fide Big Three that could help the Kings rise to the top of the Western Conference.