NBA Rumors: Dejounte Murray Trade from Hawks Hasn't Been Ruled out amid Lakers Buzz

Despite a report that trade discussions between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers have cooled off recently, it doesn't mean star guard Dejounte Murray won't be moved before Thursday's trade deadline.

NBA insider Marc Stein was told by "one source close to the process" who "optimistically insisted" that the Hawks trading Murray "has not been extinguished as a possibility."

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

Stein noted that he is "less optimistic" about the possibility of Murray being traded by Thursday's deadline. The Hawks have reportedly been seeking two first-round picks in exchange for the 2022 All-Star, and there have been no indications that another team is willing to meet their demands.

The Lakers' only movable first-rounder is their 2029 pick, which hurts their chances of landing Murray. Veteran point guard D'Angelo Russell has been floated as a candidate to be traded from Los Angeles, but it's unlikely that he would be enough to entice Atlanta to move on from one of its best players.

Murray is Atlanta's second-leading scorer at 21.4 points per game while also adding 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Despite his individual success coupled with Trae Young's production of 27.3 points, 10.9 assists and 1.3 steals, the Hawks have struggled to find consistency this season and sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-28 record.

Atlanta acquired Murray from the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 2022-23 season, so the team certainly did not expect to be trading him just a year and a half into his tenure. However, it's clear that the Hawks don't have a roster capable of competing against other elite teams.

Trading Murray would allow Atlanta to recoup assets and begin building for the future. It appears that the Hawks will have to soften their trade demands as the deadline draws nearer if they hope to ship away the 27-year-old.