According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Atlanta Hawks want a third team to acquire D’Angelo Russell in a Dejounte Murray trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Along with Murray, the Lakers have been linked to Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown, Washington Wizards guard Tyus Jones and Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier.
According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers are ready to trade Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft picks to the Hawks for Murray, who has the same agent as LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Atlanta is widely expected to trade Murray before the February 8 NBA trade deadline.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“The Murray buzz is only increasing — and to noisy levels,” Buha wrote in his NBA trade rumors article. “The Lakers and Hawks have discussed potential frameworks of a deal, including a version late last week that centered on Russell, Hood-Schifino, the 2029 first-round pick and additional draft compensation, according to multiple team and league sources. Talks have since stalled, but are expected to pick back up closer to the deadline.”
Murray, one of the top two-way players in the NBA, is averaging 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks this season while shooting 47.1% from the field, 38.2% from beyond the arc and 82.9% from the free-throw line. The 27-year-old is making $17.7 million.
Meanwhile, Russell is averaging 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 48.1% from the floor, 41.2% from 3 and 78.0% from the foul line. The 27-year-old is making $17.3 million.
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million extension with the Hawks in July, while Russell signed a two-year, $36 million contract with the Lakers. Russell has a player option worth $18.7 million for next season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers are in ninth place in the West. They have struggled mightily following their In-Season Tournament Championship run in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Hawks are in 10th place in the East.
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