Soaring Down South
Fansided

Eastern Conference rival had interest in Atlanta Hawks star

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena on March 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 31: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena on March 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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New Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray was highly coveted before being traded; that much is becoming clear. We know that they outbid the Minnesota Timberwolves who preferred to focus their energy on getting Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. Gobert was another rumored target for the Hawks.

Those talks lasted roughly 20 minutes while Minnesota swept in and set a staggering benchmark on the trade market.

That trade, along with the Hawks deal for Murray has drawn its fair share of criticism.

But it seems we get a new bit about a team that was interested in Murray who, along with Trae Young, has been adamant that their only goal is to win a championship. And it makes sense that the Hawks might have to pay a little more in this situation.

The Atlanta Hawks beat out an East rival for Dejounte Murray trade

Atlanta sent veteran forward Danilo Gallinari (later waived and signed by the Boston Celtics) along with three unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap (2026) to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the 26-year-old Murray.

That the picks from the Hawks (2025 and 2027) are unprotected has been the source of contention around the league.

It is a steep price to pay.

But it might have been necessary after ESPN’s Zach Lowe revealed another team that had an interest in Murray before the trade during the latest episode of “The Lowe Post” podcast with guest Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

Fedor offered that, in a “wings league”, the Cavaliers’ ceiling is capped until they can find a “two-way, playmaking wing” to which Lowe pulled the curtain back slightly.

“Well, they were definitely in on Dejounte Murray who is a wing if you choose to view him as a wing or not. He’s a point guard, he’s a wing. He’s got a long wingspan…the two-way wing is what everyone needs.”

light. Related Story. 4x NBA champ: Hawks made the ‘move of the offseason’

Lowe still projects the Hawks to be in the six to nine-seed range in the standings next season.

Opinion aside, the Hawks did do what was necessary to get a player they felt can be a difference maker.

They gave up a lot to acquire Murray, just as the Timberwolves did to land Gobert. But they got an All-Star-caliber playmaking defender to raise their ceiling while keeping that player from their conference rival.

The season is still two months away.

A lot can change between now and then. At some point, though, the price the Hawks paid to pair Murray with Trae Young will be far less of a story than the move’s effectiveness.

Next. Hawks considered ‘winners’ of the NBA offseason. dark

In that sense, they have already effectively thwarted a rival’s plans.

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