5 Best potential landing spots for Dejounte Murray if traded by the Hawks

Hawks’ Dejounte Murray could help power Rockets to postseason

The Houston Rockets made a strong late-season push for the playoffs but fell just short. A young team boasting a host of lottery picks and hard-nosed veterans, they lacked the kind of table-setter Murray proved he could be when operating as the lead guard.

He averaged 24.8 points and 9.2 assists over a 23-game stretch when Trae Young was sideline following finger surgery. Murray averaged 3.3 turnovers in that span.

The Rockets ranked 20th in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Like the Knicks, the Rockets had a top-10 defense last season. Unlike the Knicks, the Rockets had a bottom-tier offense, ranking 20th in offensive rating. Adding Murray’s downhill aggression and savvy midrange game could open things up for Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, etc.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is also similar to Thibodeau, asking his teams to play tough, physical defense.

He is also a proven playoff coach, having guided the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022.

A five-game skid undid the Rockets’ 11-game winning streak and the good it did them in the standings. Adding Murray could be the kind of move to get them over the hump, offering a bigger, more consistent option than incumbent (and NBA champion) Fred VanVleet.

Jalen Green would make for a good starting point in a potential trade package for the Hawks, though the Rockets’ interest in moving him is unclear.

Pairing him with Murray could unlock even greater heights for the former No. 2 overall pick.