Hawks: Rival exec suggests Dejounte Murray trade for former 6th Man of the Year

The Atlanta Hawks have been the talk of the NBA world in more ways than one over the last few months, even among rival executives.

Their landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was a surprise.

It only added to the intrigue of an offseason that has long been expected to include the Hawks trading one of Dejounte Murray or Trae Young. That speculation persists and, in a conversation with Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney, one anonymous exec suggested Murray to the Miami Heat.

“They can do a straight trade of Tyler (Herro) for Murray, if they are willing to send the picks,” the exec said, per Deveney on June 26. “Is Atlanta going to want three picks? If the Heat can do Herro with two picks, that is probably the sweet spot. Murray gives you a guy who can play two ways, who can run your offense and lay off the ball if he needs to.”

Here is how the trade would look, with the Heat sending the No. 15 overall pick and another first-rounder (with protections) in 2030.

Herro, 24, averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc last season.

He is entering the second year of a four-year, $120 million contract.

The exec’s suggested potential scenario would add nearly $4 million to the Hawks’ book for next season. But it would also make them younger at the 2-guard spot while getting them one year closer to cap space with Murray set to begin a four-year, $114 million pact in 2024-25.

Murray is coming off averaging a career-high 22.5 points with 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

He also shot 36.3% on a career-high 7.1 attempts from beyond the arc.

The one-time All-Star has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to the deadline in February, with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans among the rumored potential suitors.

Hawks face critical decision with Dejounte Murray and Trae Young

Murray and Young have put up strong individual numbers. But team success has been hard to come by while several metrics seem to suggest the pairing is the heart of the issue.

General Manager Landry Fields said they would explore the good and bad before deciding.

Murray has largely brushed off trade rumors. But he has more recently acknowledged that the chatter motivates him. He has not pushed for a trade publicly and has insisted that he and Young’s personal relationship remains strong.

The three picks in the exec’s scenario are unlikely to yield picks high in the first round given the Heat’s track record of staying competitive.

The Hawks, though, could take a volume approach, either in the draft or in trade talks.

Herro also had plenty of suitors last season as the Heat pursued pathways to landing Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers before he dealt instead to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks could look to flip him and take a similar approach as the Oklahoma City Thunder have.