According to NBA insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors are expected to begin a more serious pursuit of Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks have made Murray available in trade talks, although they are not opposed to keeping him past the trade deadline.
“Rival executives believe the Lakers and Toronto Raptors—among other teams—will begin progressing to more serious discourse with the Atlanta Hawks pertaining to star guard Dejounte Murray, sources say,” Haynes wrote. “But it remains to be seen if the Lakers have enough attractive assets to entice Atlanta. Atlanta is not operating as if Murray has to be dealt by the deadline. They have made it known in league circles that they’re more than comfortable keeping him in the fold and revisiting his future in the offseason.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors Updates
Murray is averaging 21.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 46.6% from the floor, 39.4% from 3 and 81.4% from the free-throw line. He’s making $17.7 million.
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million extension with the Hawks in July. The former San Antonio Spurs star will make $24.8 million next season, the first year of his extension.
Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group is Murray’s agent. Paul represents Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which is why numerous people around the NBA believe Murray could land in Los Angeles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors Updates
Along with the Lakers and Raptors, Murray has been linked to the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Murray has career averages of 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Spurs and Hawks. He won the 2021-22 steals title and made the 2017-18 All-Defensive Second Team.
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