Buckle up, Atlanta Hawks fans.
This season hasn’t gone as anyone linked to the Hawks had hoped, now sitting at 15-23. And the team that finishes the season could look different from the one that we see on the court against the San Antonio Spurs for their game on January 15.
“I know that the Lakers and the Hawks have talked, and I know it was like, Okay, check back after January 15,'” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast on January 15. “What is saying is it's not just the Lakers. And I know the Knicks have been tied in."
January 15 is the date when trade restrictions on several players around the league expire. For the Lakers as it relates to the Hawks, that means Austin Reaves and, to a lesser extent, Rui Hachimura.
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension in July 2023. But he has been mired in trade rumors amid the Hawks’ downward trend this season.
"Dejounte Murray is the player that they're engaged around the league with. They have talked to the Lakers." 👀 @wojespn on the Hawks' plans for Murray. pic.twitter.com/Bt7eire6Dy
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 12, 2024
The one-time All-Star and former steals champion has not openly asked for a trade.
But the Hawks have not been able to translate Murray’s success – he is posting career-highs in points and three-point efficiency to the team’s. He has also done little to help their defensive profile while, perhaps, hurting his own.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that “several teams” were showing interest in Murray on December 22.
The Lakers connection – once strongest with Trae Young – has largely been because of Murray’s representation by Klutch Sports Group, the same agency that represents Young, but also Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis and many others in the NBA.
The connection to the Knicks faces obstacles but could still take place pending a resolution.
Knicks president Leon Rose and executive William Wesley used to work with CAA, an agency in direct competition with Klutch.
Some pre-existing tension between the two sides exists. But it is believed that a sit-down with Rose, Wesley, and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul could pave the way for the two sides to come together on a deal. But Windhorst had another team to keep an eye on.
“I would keep an eye on the Nets,” Windhorst said.
Brooklyn, like the Hawks, has gotten off to a rough start to their season, though they currently sit one spot ahead of their Atlanta counterparts.
Still, the connection here could be stronger than it seems on the surface given the Hawks’ previous connection to Nets players like Dorian Finney-Smith and even the oft-injured Ben Simmons, though the latter link has gone cold.
The Hawks are positioned for a better return than they got in the John Collins trade.
That move brought some unflattering attention to the current front office. Their rumored asking price in previous talks with the Knicks is also below market compared to the chatter.