A 4-Team Trade Idea to Finally Land Dejounte Murray with LA Lakers
Two weeks out from the NBA trade deadline, and all eyes are once again on the LA Lakers and their top trade asset.
The Los Angeles Lakers (24-23) have recently gotten a burst of production from D'Angelo Russell, but would that make the Lakers less likely to trade him or more?
L.A. might choose to sell high if they aren't convinced that Russell's game translates well to the postseason. A team with LeBron James prioritizes postseason success, especially after the Lakers made a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals last year.
The chance to bring in guard Dejounte Murray from the Hawks is tantalizing. He's a dynamic scorer and defensive upgrade over Russell, and he may be enough to trigger a four-team, 12-player behemoth before the deadline.
In this scenario, the Brooklyn Nets would reunite with their former All-Star guard in Russell, while the Washington Wizards bring in a promising young player in Max Christie, along with future draft considerations.
Here's the case for why all four teams might agree to a blockbuster before the February 8 trade deadline.
Full Trade Scenario
1 of 5
Hawks get:
- Spencer Dinwiddie (via Nets)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (via Lakers)
- Jaxson Hayes (via Lakers)
- 2029 protected first-round pick (via Lakers)
- Cash considerations ($5,905,000, via Lakers)
- $18,214,000 Trade Exception (Dejounte Murray)
Lakers get:
- Dejounte Murray (via Hawks)
- Tyus Jones (via Wizards)
- Wesley Matthews (via Hawks)
- Mouhamed Gueye (via Hawks)
- $10.5 million trade exception (Gabe Vincent)
Nets get:
- D'Angelo Russell (via Lakers)
- Anthony Gill (via Wizards)
- $20.4 million trade exception (Spencer Dinwiddie)
- $2 million trade exception (Harry Giles III)
Wizards get:
- Gabe Vincent (via Lakers)
- Max Christie (via Lakers)
- Harry Giles III (via Nets)
- 2024 second-rounder (L.A. Clippers, via Lakers)
- 2025 protected second-rounder (via Nets)
- 2025 second-rounder (via Lakers)
- 2027 conditional second-rounder (via Lakers)
- Cash considerations ($1,100,000, via Lakers)
- $14 million trade exception (Tyus Jones)
- $2 million trade exception (Anthony Gill)
Note: The Lakers' first-round pick protections in 2029 are negotiable, but pencil in top-10 protected through 2030; otherwise, it conveys as a 2030 second-round pick.
The 2025 second-rounder from Brooklyn to Washington is from the Miami Heat (top-37 protected).
The 2027 second-rounder from the Lakers to Washington will only convey if the Lakers' 2027 first-rounder is in the 5-30 range.
Why the Atlanta Hawks Should Do It
2 of 5
Per multiple NBA sources, the Hawks are open to moving Murray before the trade deadline, which begs the simple question, "Why?"
Atlanta gave up multiple first-round picks to acquire him in 2022 from the San Antonio Spurs. He's only 27, hitting games-winners and averaging 21.4 points and 5.1 assists a game while shooting a respectable 38.8 percent from three-point range.
In a perfect world, the Hawks (18-27) wouldn't look to trade Murray, but in the reality of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, finances matter more than ever. Bringing back nearly the same team next year, including pending restricted free agent Saddiq Bey, would put Atlanta at the projected second apron of $191 million. Is this Hawks' core worth the luxury tax penalty and the limited flexibility of apron territory?
The answer, apparently, is no. Competing executives say that Atlanta is open to moving players like De'Andre Hunter, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanović and Murray to build around Trae Young and younger, more economical teammates like Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.
In this deal, the Hawks replace Murray with Dinwiddie, who plays the same position but on an expiring contract. Hood-Schifino gives the Hawks a cost-controlled guard to develop. The future first is well beyond James' current contract and could be very valuable in projecting the Lakers as a potential rebuilding franchise.
Then there's the matter of Murray's trade bonus, which would be at least $13 million (depending on the day he's traded). The Hawks would be responsible for paying it, so the Lakers are sending some cash to Atlanta in the deal.
To make the margins work in such a complex deal, the Hawks send Gueye and Matthews to the Lakers with Hayes to Atlanta.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers Should Do It
3 of 5
The Lakers upgrade Russell to Murray, which helps on the defensive side of the ball without giving up too much offensively. Russell is arguably the better shooter, but his efficiency dipped to 31 percent from behind the arc through 16 postseason appearances. Russell is at 32.9 percent on his career in the playoffs, compared to 36.7 percent in the regular season (at 42.9 percent this year).
Murray doesn't have the same playoff resume, as he was still a young player with the Spurs in 2017 and 2018, but he averaged 23 points in five games for the Hawks in the first round (shooting 37.8 percent from three). Murray's 38.8 percent is well above his regular-season career average (34.6 percent), but the Lakers would be making the move because of his defensive prowess.
Add in that Murray is with Klutch Sports, sharing an agent with Anthony Davis and James, and would benefit from a significant trade bonus, and that seems like enough motivation on L.A.'s side.
But the team is still short a ball-handling guard with Vincent out indefinitely with a knee injury. The Lakers are giving up as much as they are to get Vincent off their books (three years total, $33 million) while adding in one of the better backup point guards in the league in Jones, from the Wizards.
The cost is steep regarding picks and young players (Christie, Hood-Schifino), but the Lakers can stay below the first apron (perhaps signing Bismack Biyombo as a backup center for the rest of the season). Matthews could help in the rotation as a wing defender; Gueye and Hayes are moving parts to make everything legal.
Why the Brooklyn Nets Should Do It
4 of 5
The Nets need help at point guard and lack shooting. Multiple sources around the league believe Brooklyn is ready to move on from Dinwiddie.
Russell represents a short-term solution for the Nets as a shooter to complement Mikal Bridges, who isn't on a long deal. Russell has a player option for next season at $18.7 million, which should fit within the Net's budget without pushing the team into luxury tax territory.
If Russell opts out, the most Brooklyn can pay him is $20.8 million to re-sign. Perhaps both sides can reach a multiyear agreement at a reasonable price. Otherwise, the Nets aren't giving up a lot in the deal. Outside of a second-round pick, the team swaps Giles for Gill with the Wizards.
Why the Washington Wizards Should Do It
5 of 5
The Wizards are fully rebuilding and aren't expected to re-sign Jones this summer. The team is looking for draft considerations in return, and while a first-rounder would be the goal, that may be more than other franchises are willing to pay for a reserve on an expiring contract.
Instead, Washington gets Christie, a promising young guard who will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Wizards would be in a solid position to lock in Christie on a team-friendly, multiyear deal this offseason. The team would also get multiple second-rounders and a little cash for taking on Vincent.
While Vincent's contract goes on for two additional seasons, the Wizards get a relatively inexpensive veteran at an essential position for a young team. He would also represent future value as another piece Washington can trade for value once he's healthy before the 2025 trade deadline. Giles and Gill are minor considerations in the four-team deal.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Falcons, Jags Make DT Trade")
.jpg?w=600 "SmackDown Before WrestleMania 🔠")
.jpg?w=600 "Brissett Wants Starter Money")
