The Los Angeles Lakers are one team that people are keeping a close eye on heading into the 2024 NBA Offseason. They are looking to upgrade the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis by any means necessary.
It will be interesting to see if they double back to negotiations that were had during the regular season. According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Los Angeles was in talks to acquire the third star they crave.
During the 2023-24 season, the Lakers were engaged in three-team trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets. According to Pincus, D’Angelo Russell and Dejounte Murray were the centerpiece of the deal.
“Multiple sources say that before trading for Dennis Schröder, the Brooklyn Nets were in talks with the Lakers for Russell (with L.A. getting Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks). That negotiation died between the Lakers and Hawks, but the Nets still need a starting-caliber guard,” wrote Pincus.
There are a lot of obstacles that would need to be overcome for a three-team deal between the Lakers, Nets and Hawks to come to fruition. Los Angeles would be hard-capped and a second-apron team, which makes adding to the roster very difficult.
Brooklyn is still on the lookout for a lead guard and could show interest in Russell, who is expected to decline his player option and hit free agency this summer. His lone All-Star appearance came with the Nets during the 2018-19 season when he helped lead the team to the playoffs.
But, adding a player of Murray’s caliber would certainly fit what they are looking for. He is a great third option behind James and Davis, offering more on the defensive side of the ball than Russell does. Another ball-handler to take some of the onus off of James is ideal.
Expect there to be more rumors between the Lakers and Hawks as the offseason moves along. In addition to Murray, Los Angeles has been mentioned as a landing spot for Trae Young. Atlanta looks intent on breaking up their current backcourt pairing and the Lakers could be a fit.
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