Lakers Rumors: Dejounte Murray Trade Talks with Hawks 'Have Been Pretty Cold'

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly unlikely to acquire Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective (58-minute mark) that talks between the Lakers and Hawks have been "pretty cold" as the deadline approaches.

The Lakers have been the team most often linked to Murray as the disappointing Hawks look to retool their roster. Atlanta has been asking for two first-round picks in trade talks. The Lakers can only trade their 2029 first-round pick due to the Stepien Rule, which has presented a roadblock in trade talks.

While it's likely the Lakers would part ways with that pick to land Murray, the remainder of their assets are not particularly promising. Austin Reaves has been made borderline untouchable in trade talks, leaving the Lakers to offer D'Angelo Russell as the centerpiece of any deal.

Russell and Trae Young would instantly become the NBA's worst defensive backcourt. It's hard to see a scenario where Young and Russell would make any sense as a pairing, so the Hawks would likely want to reroute him to a third team.

Murray would be a home run acquisition for the Lakers and frankly most teams around the league. It's a little confusing why the Hawks would even look to move on. Murray hides Young's weakness on the defensive end by guarding the opposing team's best ball-handler, and he works as a stellar secondary ball-handler and floor spacer himself.

The Hawks arguably have the NBA's best passing backcourt between Young and Murray; it's the extras elsewhere on the roster that present a problem.

Murray is also set to start a bargain four-year, $114.1 million contract next season.