Dejounte Murray's Top Trade Landing Spots in 2024 Offseason After NBA Deadline Ends

After weeks of speculation and rumors, Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline passed without a Dejounte Murray move.

The Atlanta Hawks decided to keep him and pursue at least a play-in tournament spot down the stretch. They are 22-29 and in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, so anything less than that would be quite the disappointment.

Trading Murray also wasn't a necessity for the Hawks considering he is under contract through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28. This wasn't a case of a player likely leaving in free agency during the upcoming summer anyway, and Atlanta will still have him for years if it chooses that path.

Still, the Hawks may decide to make a move this summer if they don't turn things around down the stretch. An early exit in the play-in tournament could convince the front office it is time to start focusing on the future, and a Murray trade could help accelerate that timeline.

With that in mind, here are some potential landing spots if there is an offseason trade.

Los Angeles Lakers

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 30: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to drive against Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on December 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There was no shortage of noise connecting the Los Angeles Lakers to Murray, which isn't exactly surprising.

While they are 27-25 and in ninth place in the Western Conference, there is also a win-now urgency with LeBron James at 39 years old. If he does exercise his 2024-25 player option and remain in Los Angeles, that urgency won't go anywhere heading into next season.

If anything, it might be even more pressing if the Lakers have an early playoff exit.

Trading for Murray would give them a third go-to scorer and someone who can take the defensive pressure off James' shoulders. He is also an excellent facilitator and could set James, Anthony Davis and others up for scoring opportunities.

Most importantly, it would raise the ceiling for a franchise that is seemingly in championship-or-bust mode every season.

New York Knicks

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks is guarded by Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on November 02, 2022 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

It's hard not to feel good about the New York Knicks at this point.

They have won 10 of their last 11 games and are just one game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They also improved Thursday when they acquired Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two future second-round picks.

But they might need another star player alongside Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle if they are going to truly challenge the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference.

Murray would be such a star player and could fit in alongside Brunson much in the same way he has with Trae Young in Atlanta. He is also shooting 37 percent from three-point range this season and could take full advantage of the spacing created by the other two players.

The Knicks haven't been past the second round of the playoffs since 2000, and it may take one more major trade to do so in the coming years even though they have taken significant strides this season.

Philadelphia 76ers

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 17: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks to pass around Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA In-Season Tournament game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers given Joel Embiid's knee injury, but they will surely be eyeing a deep playoff run in 2024-25 with him on the roster.

Trading for Murray could help them achieve just that, and he is an ideal fit. In fact, he may be a better fit in Philadelphia alongside Tyrese Maxey than he is in Atlanta with Young because he can return to his more natural point guard spot.

Young is far more ball-dominant, while Maxey is someone who can be an away-from-the-ball scorer who takes advantage of Murray's facilitating ability. Murray pick-and-rolls with Embiid would also be difficult to stop, especially if Maxey is spotting up on the outside.

He would also give the 76ers a formidable defensive presence on the wing, which could help them contend with the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Khris Middleton, Jimmy Butler and others in potential playoff series.

Murray was a 2017-18 All-Defensive selection and can guard multiple positions.

If Philadelphia disappoints and doesn't make a deep playoff run this season, it could look to make significant changes and bring in someone like the 27-year-old with an offseason trade.