Dejounte Murray Trade Rumors: Lakers Willing to Move 2029 1st-Round Pick, Pick Swap

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly made a trade offer for Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray that includes significant draft pick compensation.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers have made the "most aggressive" play for Murray thus far, offering a 2029 first-round pick and a pick swap for the one-time All-Star.

Fischer added that the hangup in negotiations could be that the Hawks want a better player coming back than guard D'Angelo Russell. Additionally, Russell has an $18.6 million player option for next season, and the Hawks would prefer to not take back any future salary in a deal, so a third team may be needed.

Since the Lakers are trying to acquire a third star to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the only players it can offer in a deal are supporting cast members.

Their two best are arguably Russell and Austin Reaves, but per Jovan Buha of The Athletic, L.A. values Reaves more than Russell.

The Lakers have been linked to several players in potential trades this season, but it appears as though they may be zeroing in on Murray as their preferred option to be the running mate for LeBron and AD.

Buha said this week on the HoopsHype podcast that the Lakers are making a trade for Murray their "priority," and Fischer's report suggests they are the current favorite to acquire Murray should Atlanta decide to move him.

Murray, 27, was originally a first-round pick by San Antonio in 2016, and he developed into an All-Star by the end of his Spurs tenure, as he was selected to the All-Star team in 2021-22 when he averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.

Atlanta traded for Murray before the 2022-23 season in hopes that he could form a dynamic backcourt with Trae Young, and his numbers were solid in his first season, as he put up 20.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

So far this season, Murray is averaging a career-high 21.4 points to go along with 5.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals.

The Hawks have struggled this season as a team, though, to the tune of an 18-26 record, and since they signed him to a four-year, $114.1 million contract extension over the summer, they could look to get out from under that financial commitment.

Acquiring Murray could be a major coup for a Lakers team that is ninth in the Western Conference with a 23-23 record.

While Murray wouldn't guarantee a return to the Western Conference Finals like last season, it would perhaps put the Lakers in a much better spot to go on a deep playoff run.