JUST IN – Analyst Proposes Three-Team Trade With Hawks, Lakers, And The Raptors [Full Story]
The NBA saw its first big trade of the season over the weekend when the Toronto Raptors sent OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick. The Raptors, who have been hard to make a deal with in recent years, finally traded one of their core pieces for assets and it looked like a good deal for both sides.
Now, the league is in wait-and-see mode to see if they will deal their other star forward, Pascal Siakam. There have been a rumored number of suitors for Siakam, including the Atlanta Hawks, and the trade deadline is a month away.
Another player rumored to be in trade talks is Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. The Knicks were one team that was interested in Murray and still could be despite acquiring Anunoby.
NBA insider Shams Charania had this to say about the Lakers interest in Murray:
“One player that I am told to keep an eye on, a potential target for the Lakers, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Murray still has four years, $120 million of an extension that kicks in next season, so that is a little bit better when you think of a reasonable salary to be bringing in when you already have LeBron James and Anthony Davis on your books.
The Hawks’s direction of course, it is in flux, they gave up multiple first-round picks and a swap to go and get Dejounte Murray a couple of summers ago from the Spurs”
I wrote after this rumor came out that the Hawks should not be interested in a straight-up deal with the Lakers due to their lack of assets, but a three-team deal would be more practical so they could get a better return.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey constructed a three-team deal between the Lakers, Hawks, and Raptors that should have all sides interested.
Here are the details of the proposed trade:
Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
Dejounte Murray and Garrett Temple.
Los Angeles Lakers Lose: D’Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, Max Christie and a top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Pascal Siakam, Dennis Schröder and Max Christie
Atlanta Hawks Lose: Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter and a 2029 first-round pick
Toronto Raptors Receive: D’Angelo Russell, De’Andre Hunter, Taurean Prince, a top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2029 first-round pick from Atlanta
Toronto Raptors Lose: Pascal Siakam, Dennis Schröder and Garrett Temple
This would be a better trade for the Hawks than a straight-up deal with the Lakers. The Hawks get their preferred target in Siakam, they would welcome back point guard Dennis Schroder, and get a promising young prospect in Max Christie, who would help the Hawks defensively. The Lakers get their third star in Murray, while the Raptors get two picks, a young player in Hunter, along with Prince and Russell (who I don’t think help them this year).
I don’t how interested the Hawks would be in bringing Schroder back and how trading Murray changes their starting lineup. I think it would be better for Schroder to come off the bench instead of starting and the Hawks should start Bogdanovic instead.
Keep an eye out for more rumors about the Hawks, who might be the most interesting team to watch leading up to the trade deadline.
