Hawks miss out on 'coveted' trade target on eventful trade deadline

The Atlanta Hawks are having one of the quieter trade deadlines in terms of actual movement, especially when you consider all of the rumors they found themselves at the center of in the days, weeks, and even months leading up to the day.

From Dejounte Murray being shopped around the league and then not to the mention of Onyeka Okongwu in trade talks, the Hawks have been a staple in rumors.

Their prudence, however, has seen them miss out on a player they were targeting.

The New York Knicks traded third-year guard Quentin Grimes as part of a package to the Detroit Pistons for veterans Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic. Grimes was one of the few players the Hawks have been linked to in this trade window.

“[The] New York Knicks have … expressed interest in acquiring Murray, sources said, but for a lesser cost than what Atlanta wants,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on February 8.

“The Knicks have Evan Fournier’s expiring contract, a future first-round pick to dangle along with Quentin Grimes, a player coveted by the Hawks, league sources told HoopsHype. However, New York has been rolling since the acquisition of [OG] Anunoby and some within the organization question the fit of Murray next to Jalen Brunson.”

Grimes, 23, was the No. 25 overall pick in 2021. 

He is averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this season, while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc and providing feisty perimeter defense. The Hawks have shown interest in him at various points over the last year at least.

The Hawks watched another long-rumored trade target, All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam, traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Indiana Pacers earlier this season.

Hawks headed for quiet trade deadline

Scotto also added to reports that the New Orleans Pelicans were interested in Murray. But he also noted that there was nothing close to imminent.

Those talks have since stalled out.

“A deal between Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans for Dejounte Murray has halted with no progress in sight by the trade deadline,” Bleacher Report and TNT’s Chris Haynes reported in a post on X on February 8.

Haynes has previously reported that the Hawks were under no deadline to trade Murray, and the expectation is that he remains with the Hawks at least for the rest of the season.

It’s the most prudent direction.

Potential trade partners will have more cap space, draft capital, and roster flexibility to make deals this offseason. That includes the Los Angeles Lakers, the long-rumored top suitor for Murray in this transaction window.