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The Los Angeles Lakers might not be giving up their pursuit of Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray even after he stayed put at the Thursday trade deadline.
The Lakers are expected to “re-engage” the Hawks in trade talks for Murray this offseason, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“The Hawks will enter June and July with a very clear understanding of several teams’ valuations of Murray,” Fischer wrote.
The upcoming 2024-25 campaign will mark the first year of the four-year, $114-million extension Murray signed with the Hawks in 2023.
Murray is averaging a career-high 21.4 points alongside 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in 49 starts for the Hawks this season.
The Hawks were interested in pursuing Austin Reaves in exchange for Murray, but the Lakers had “no interest” in including Reaves in the deal, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
It could be easier for both parties to facilitate a potential trade this offseason, when the Lakers will have more to offer than just their current stars as the team acquires two additional three first-round picks they can package into trades.
The Lakers’ three total picks this offseason will include 2029 and 2031 first-rounders, as well as either a 2024 or 2025 pick depending on what the New Orleans Pelicans do with the pick they acquired in the 2019 trade for Anthony Davis.
The Hawks could be hoping the Lakers would consider packaging some of that draft stock in a deal for Murray.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers have had internal discussions about putting together a package of these picks and their current talent “to pursue a bona fide star.”
The Lakers could face some competition for Murray from the Pelicans, who are also reportedly interested in the former All-Star guard. Fischer noted that “the Hawks are known to value several players on New Orleans’ roster,” although one of those is Naji Marshall, who is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
If Murray doesn’t end up going to Los Angeles, the Lakers could potentially look into acquiring another Hawks star in Trae Young. Both McMenamin and Fischer have floated the idea of the Lakers using their draft stock to pursue the 25-year-old guard this offseason.
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