Atlanta Hawks put unceremonius end to Dejounte Murray era with latest move

The Dejounte Murray-era Atlanta Hawks were short-lived, lasting just two seasons before their split this offseason.  Murray is happy with his new team, the New Orleans Pelicans. And the Hawks are also moving on.

They gave Murray’s former jersey number (also his number in NO) to Dyson Daniels. Daniels was already viewed as the key piece on the return for Murray.

It is a change for Daniels, but one he had only some control over. 

He wore the No. 11 with the Pelicans. That number, of course, belongs to Hawks star Trae Young.  Daniels rocked No. 1 with Australia during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. But that jersey number belongs to Hawks rising star Jalen Johnson. 

It is unclear if Daniels would have selected the No. 5 in New Orleans. 

The number belonged to Herb Jones before Murray worked out an arrangement with his new teammate.

Murray is the most recent owner, but there have been several notable Hawks to don the No. 5 in the Hawks’ history. Danny Manning, DeMarre Carroll, and Josh Smith are among the most notable in recent history. 

Only five numbers have had more wearers than the 24 that will have put on the No. 5 jersey.

Hawks bring unceremonious conclusion to Dejounte Murray era

It is another marker of the next chapter for Daniels and the Hawks, whose offseason changes have many forecasting a step back in 2024-25. Whether or not that leads to a significant step forward in 2025-26 could play a big part in the Hawks’ line of thinking.

But it is clear they are going for a different look this season.

The Hawks already roster just five players from their run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21. 

They will not have seven players from the 2023-24 squad, including five players who logged at least 400 minutes and two who logged over 2,000 minutes during the campaign. A 36-win team has few redeeming qualities, so a roster shuffle is not the worst thing that could happen.

Still, such a dramatic shift just two years after they pivoted to the dual-PG backcourt is big.

There have not been any rumblings about anyone in charge being on the hot seat from Hawks general manager Landry Fields to head coach Quin Snyder.

Fields and Snyder may be fine taking a long-term view of the situation. Players have been under the microscope more, but that tends to shift when losing trends continue. This was the Hawks’ first time missing the playoffs since 2019-20.

Snyder’s Utah Jazz teams missed the postseason in his first two seasons at the helm. 

Those groups went on to make the playoffs six years straight. If there is a knock against that sort of proven progress, it is that they never advanced past the second round.

The Hawks have a lot issues they must prove have been addressed before they can be considered ahead of the curve and make a postseason run. Perimeter defense was the worst it has been in 2023-24. 

With Murray gone, the Hawks must prove they can function offensively when Young sits.

That was a significant issue in the past, leading to the trade for Murray in 2022. More extensive changes could be in order if the Hawks look like they did just before that.