Trade Proposal Sends Hawks’ Dejounte Murray To Nets

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Nets and Hawks:

The trade: The Atlanta Hawks trade Dejounte Murray to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and two future first-round picks

Murray appeared in 78 games for the Hawks this season. He averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 45.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 79.4% from the free-throw line. 

The Hawks are expected to trade Murray or Trae Young this offseason, sources told Hoops Wire. 

One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Murray has career averages of 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs and Hawks. He turns 28 next season. 

Atlanta signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension in July 2023. Murray will make $24.8 million next season. 

Both the Hawks and Nets missed the playoffs this season. 

“While there is a “growing belief in many corners of the league” that the Hawks would rather move Young than Murray, per NBA insider Marc Stein, maybe landing the No. 1 pick would change their minds,” Buckley wrote. “If Atlanta feels Alexandre Sarr is the top prospect on the board and agrees with B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman that the French 7-footer has Jaren Jackson Jr.-like potential, perhaps the Hawks would see him as the ideal fit for Young.

“Keeping Murray might be safer, since he is easier to build around. But keeping Young, arguably, offers the highest ceiling, as his blend of scoring and table-setting is more potent than anything Murray provides. Young just leaks like an old faucet on defense, but perhaps a frontcourt rotation featuring Sarr, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu could cover that.

“Finney-Smith would give Atlanta another three-and-D option on the wing, and it would gain two first-round picks to help cover any other problem areas. Package those with Clint Capela‘s sizable (and expiring) salary, and the Hawks should have enough to find Young a better-fitting backcourt partner.”

Murray’s agent is Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, the superagent who represents Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers are expected to show trade interest in Murray this summer, sources told Hoops Wire. 

The Nets tried to acquire Murray at this year’s trade deadline, so they could show interest in the guard again this offseason.