This has been a common cycle for the Lakers and LeBron’s teams. The fans hype the team up in the offseason when they sign a bunch of role players just to tear them down as soon as they don’t win 30 out of 40 games.

With that in mind, Rob Pelinka had reportedly set his sights on Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray, who’s likely to be traded before the deadline. Notably, the Lakers were reportedly leading the race for his services.

D’Angelo Russell’s Strong Play Puts Dejounte Murray Trade In Pause

Now, however, NBA insider Marc Stein wants the fans to pull the brakes on this transaction. Apparently, unlike what other beat writers had reported, trade talks have stalled.

“League sources say that there has been little-to-no trade dialogue in recent days between the Hawks and the Lakers when it comes to former All-Star Dejounte Murray,” Stein wrote.

Notably, D’Angelo Russell’s stellar play since returning to the sarting lineup has reportedly made the Lakers re-consider their stance of moving him, according to Stein:

“Trade talks tend to be fluid this time of year and can be easily sparked up again, but one source briefed on the talks termed the idea of Murray landing with the Lakers before the deadline, as of this Sunday, as ‘unrealistic.’ Among the factors for that: D’Angelo Russell’s strong play this month,” he added.

Even so, it’s likely that the Lakers will revisit this possibility later in the season, especially considering Russell’s well-documented struggles in the postseason, as this level of play might not be sustainable for much longer.

This time, they’re trying to get Atlanta Hawks star PG Dejounte Murray to wear Purple and Gold, and given his ties to Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, chances are that he’s actually looking forward to that transaction.

Fortunately for him, it seems like the Brooklyn Nets are willing to give him and the Lakers a hand, as NBA insider Jake Weinbach reports that they’re currently in discussions of a three-way trade to send him to Southern California.

Nets, Lakers, Hawks Discuss Three-Team Trade around Dejounte Murray

“The Lakers, Hawks, and Nets could engage in a three-team deal that would send Dejounte Murray to Los Angeles, D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn, and Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first via LAL, and additional draft compensation to Atlanta. That’s a realistic scenario at this juncture,” wrote Weinbach.

Sam Amick had already reported that the Lakers had separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the negotiations for Murray, even though multiple teams were interested in his services:

“The question I was trying to bounce off people was specifically Dejounte with the Lakers,” Amick reported. “Is this us just trying to have the existential question of who’s gonna help LeBron that we’ve been asking for 20 years? Or is it like Dejounte is actually gonna be in a Lakers jersey? These are people who are in the know but don’t truly know, obviously nobody does yet. But it feels like that has got very real legs to it.”

Murray used to be an elite defender, and he could still go back to that level if he’s locked in on a good team, and his scoring and playmaking skills speak for themselves, so he’d be a big boost for Darvin Ham’s struggling team.

Nonetheless, it’s also a fact that once they’re locked in on one guy, they usually get it. That’s what happens often with big-market teams, especially those featuring LeBron James.

This time, the Purple & Gold have set their sights on fellow Klutch Sports client Dejounte Murray, who’s reportedly been made available by the Atlanta Hawks. Notably, Sam Amick of The Athletic claims there’s a real chance the Lakers will get him.

Lakers ‘Separate Themselves From The Dejounte Pack’

“The question I was trying to bounce off people was specifically Dejounte with the Lakers,” Amick said. “Is this us just trying to have the existential question of who’s gonna help LeBron that we’ve been asking for 20 years? Or is it like Dejounte is actually gonna be in a Lakers jersey? These are people who are in the know but don’t truly know, obviously nobody does yet. But it feels like that has got very real legs to it.”

Amick reports that even though the Lakers are reluctant to give up Austin Reaves, they’re currently leading the race to land the former San Antonio Spurs point guard:

“Our Shams Charania has reported that the offers have gone back and forth,” Amick continued. “There was some chatter that the Hawks ideally would love to get their hands on Austin Reaves, that’s not gonna happen. So it’s a question of like how long does Landry Fields hold out? But it feels like the Lakers have separated themselves from the Dejounte pack and it feels like to some degree, they’ve locked in on him as a guy that they think can help them.”

Whether he’ll give them what they need to get over the hump remains to be seen. Then again, he’s been on a tear this season and could give them another All-Star-caliber scorer and playmaker.

Fast forward to today, and that just hasn’t been the case at all. Not even hiring Quin Snyder has prevented this team from free-falling and constantly flirting with .500 basketball at best.

There have been plenty of reports and rumors about the front office being ready to pull the plug and trade anyone not named Trae Young or Jalen Johnson. Needless to say, they shouldn’t find much trouble moving Murray, not even with his current contract.

Murray has the potential to be an All-Defensive kind of player, and he’s become a much more aggressive scorer. His two-way skill set could be of help to several teams around the league.

NBA Rumors: 3 Landing Spots For Dejounte Murray

So, now that we know that Murray can be had, it’s time to talk about the teams that could have him. With that in mind, we’ve listed three potential destinations that would make sense for both parties and that actually have enough assets to pull it off.

3. San Antonio Spurs

Murray took some shots at Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, so maybe that bridge is burned already. Then again, they desperately crave a true playmaker, and the prospect of having him in the pick-and-roll with Victor Wembanyama is more than exciting.

The Spurs won’t compete for now, but they do have some promising players and will likely have another top-three pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. If Murray is willing to go back to Texas, he could significantly raise their floor and ceiling for next season.

2. Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors need more size and defense. The Chris Paul experiment didn’t work out, and they would be better with Murray leading the second unit, assuming he’s even willing to do so. If not, he could slide to the starting lineup next to Stephen Curry.

The Warriors are going to be quite aggressive in their pursuit of talent before the trade deadline. Their title window is shutting down right in front of them, and they have more than enough assets and young players to make several moves in the next couple of weeks.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have been keeping tabs on Murray for quite a while now. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, as he’s represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, who also happen to represent LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Scottie Pippen Jr., and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The Lakers have underperformed this season, and all teams involving LeBron are always very active in the trade market. These kinds of teams usually get what they want, and while it might be expensive, adding Murray could give their defense a much-needed boost.

Then again, we know all teams involving LeBron James are always quite active in the market, and GM Rob Pelinka has pulled off some major mid-season moves throughout the course of the years.

Now, they could be setting their sights on Georgia, as the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly on the verge of a rebuild, and they’re keeping tabs on All-Star PG Dejounte Murray.

Lakers Could Target Bogdan Bogdanovic

Nonetheless, Murray might not be the only Hawk to take his talents to Southern California. According to an unnamed executive and Zach Lowe, they could also target Bogdan Bogdanovic in the operation (Via Basketball Forever):

“Speaking on “NBA Today” recently, ESPN’s Zach Lowe shared insights from one NBA executive, envisioning a complex deal where the Lakers could secure not only Dejounte Murray but also sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, addressing the Lakers’ desperate need for more shooting,“ read the report.

Needless to say, that won’t be cheap, and the Lakers will have to give up draft assets and solid rotation players to get their hands around two of the Hawks’ best players:

“According to the unnamed executive, the Lakers would also have to include Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell and additional draft compensation,” the report concluded.

Bogdanovic could give the Lakers some much-needed shooting. He thrives offensively and can play on and off the ball and either start or come off the bench, as he doesn’t need a lot of touches to be efficient.

As for Murray, he could give them the defensive boost their backcourt has craved for quite a while now, not to mention another solid playmaker and finisher to take pressure off LeBron James’ shoulders.

The Warriors don’t have the assets to outbid some teams like the New York Knicks or Oklahoma City Thunder, but they could make several moves ahead of the February trade deadline. It’s now or never in the Bay area.

We know Andrew Wiggins might be the odd man out, and Chris Paul’s expiring contract could be a nice salary-filler for most deals. Add guys like Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and a couple of picks to the mix, and the Warriors do have something to work with.

Then again, they need to be extremely cautious about the players they bring back. Their NBA championship window could be closing right before their eyes, and they have to make some major tweaks to their rotations to prevent that from happening.

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.

NBA Trade Rumors: Potential Targets For Golden State

With that in mind, the first thing to consider is that the Warriors might not be able or willing to trade for a star player. Instead, they’re more likely to make several roster-shaking moves to test their luck ahead of the second half of the campaign. Here, we’ll mention three of the biggest names they could realistically pursue.

3. Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith doesn’t get enough press, but he’s tailor-made for Steve Kerr’s system. He’s not a high-usage guy offensively, but he’ll gladly stay in the corner and knock down shots from beyond the arc or finish plays at the rim as a slasher.

He also happens to be one of the best and most underrated wing defenders in the league. Finney-Smith can hold his own and guard multiple positions, and the Warriors could desperately use another stopper.

2. Dejounte Murray

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly considering blowing up their roster, and Anthony Slater of The Athletic revealed that the Warriors were keeping tabs on their lanky point guard. To make things even better, they could also pursue Clint Capela to address their need for size.

Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks.

Murray hasn’t played the same level of defense in Atlanta from his days in San Antonio, but he’s proven to be an above-average defender. He can also create his own shot or facilitate for others and fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis.

1. Jerami Grant

The Portland Trail Blazers won’t be good for years, but they do have a bright future. Simply put, they have no use for an aging player taking a big chunk of their salary cap, which is why they should look to move Jerami Grant as soon as they can.

The Warriors have been linked to Pascal Siakam way too often, but they might not be able to get him, so they could pursue the closest thing to him. The only issue is that they would have to absorb big money for years.

Darvin Ham might not be the right guy for this job. He has yet to find a lineup that works, and that’s a big concern 30 games into the season, even with the injuries they’ve been through.

So, just like what happens with most teams involving LeBron James, the Lakers are most likely going to go through a roster overhaul at some point in the season. It’s just a matter of who they can pursue.

According to the latest reports, they’re not only interested in trading for Zach LaVine. They have also set their sights on Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.

Lakers To Target Dejounte Murray

“According to Shams Charania from The Athletic, Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray is seen as a potential target,“ reported Basket News. “Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine has been involved in Lakers trade rumors recently as well.”

Nonetheless, as they may know by now, it’ll be virtually impossible to get either of these players without giving up Austin Reaves, so they’ll have to make an uncomfortable decision at some point:

“Charania notes that the Lakers would most likely have to give up multiple first-round picks and at least one notable player like Austin Reaves to land a player of Murray or LaVine’s caliber,” the report continued.

LeBron Isn’t Pleased With The Roster

Whatever the case, something’s definitely going to happen, and plenty of players are on borrowed time. LeBron has already made it clear that they’re not good enough to compete with the top-tier teams, and that usually leads to multiple moves:

“I think the league’s best team so far is Minnesota, they’re pretty much healthy. OKC, pretty much healthy besides [Josh] Giddey. And Boston, they’re fully healthy,” James said.

The veteran forward also admits that the team hasn’t been healthy this season. That makes it tough to assess what works and what doesn’t. But even at full strength, they might not have what it takes to keep up with the championship contenders:

“I don’t think we’re healthy right now,” James said. “I don’t think we’re where we want to be to compete versus the top teams, and we need to continue to get better, continue to work on our habits. For us, we’re still trying to figure out our situation as far as how we want to continue to approach each game. We’ll be better.”

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have well, but even though they claim to be one of the top duos in the league, they haven’t been able to carry this team to legitimate championship contention.

Perhaps it’s time to assess their status as a so-called elite duo in the league, as empty stats aren’t enough to win championships, and other duos are getting it done despite averaging fewer points or spending fewer minutes on the court.

NBA rookies are eager to adjust to the league as quickly as possible and are open to getting help from established players like Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray, and Miles Bridges.

However, Ja Morant is currently facing some challenges that may not make him the best role model for a rookie who is still learning the ropes. It is undeniable that he has a talent that any rookie would like to have.

Most top rookies become good players in a short amount of time, but they need advice from other established players to do so. Dejounte Murray and Miles Bridges are two examples of successful rookies who have received guidance from more experienced players.

Who is the rookie who is being mentored by three NBA players?

In a recent video, Emoni Bates, who was drafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, revealed that he has been taken under the wing of three players: Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray, and Miles Bridges. Bates said that they have been helping him adjust to his new life in the NBA.

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Bates with the 49th overall pick. He was the only player drafted by the Cavaliers in the 2023 NBA Draft. Bates was then signed to a two-way contract on July 7.

Murray had shown glimpses of outstanding defense, but his offense was still far behind schedule, especially his shooting. Also, he suffered a season-ending knee injury that kept him on the shelf for quite a long time.

So, now that he’s no longer under Gregg Popovich’s tutelage, Murray looked back on his days with the Spurs. Notably, he acknowledged that he was far from satisfied,and even claimed the team played ‘mind games’ with him.

NBA News: Dejounte Murray Says The Spurs Played Mind Games With Him

“It was a roller coaster; I used to go home mad,” Murray told Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson on ‘All The Smoke.’“I had my uncle living with me, and I used to go home mad. Just from not understanding like where we come from, you won’t understand what they’re putting you through. I’d come to the arena, and they’re like, ‘you’re not dressing up today.’ I don’t even got a sports jacket.”

“They try to give me a big *ss sports jacket. Like, ‘Nah you can wear Pau Gasol’s sports jacket.’ So for me, I’m like, there’s a lot being thrown at me, and I am like ‘I don’t like this bro. Then I am going home, and I am telling unc, I’m busting Tony’s ‘[Parker] ass in practice, Patty Mills, I’m locking him up.Just give me five minutes, seven minutes,'” Murray added.

Murray sure isn’t the first player that has come out to speak against Gregg Popovich’s way, but most young players need to take some time to adjust and learn the ropes of the league before getting consistent minutes. That’s just the way it is.

Murray— a regular participant in these tournaments— threw a nice dunk over the reigning first-overall pick. It was a regular basketball play, andshouldn’t have led to a virtual beef, but it did.

Banchero took to Instagram to claim that Murray had unfollowed him and asked him to ‘guard up.’ The Atlanta Hawks guard didn’t care for Banchero’s comments and went back at him and told him to stay humble.

NBA News: Paolo Banchero, Dejounte Murray Trade Jabs On Social Media

“Unfollowed me on the gram and everything huh, it must be personal. That’s fine, just make sure you guard up next time and stop sending doubles family,” the first-overall pick wrote on his Instagram story without mentioning Murray.

“You tried to flex that No. 1 pick s*it on me when I been rooting for you when you was a kid asking to rebound for me. Don’t get on this Internet and start saying nothing… You changed from the humble kid you always was and I stand on real shit boy… You made it and changed and I lost all respect. Stay humble. This life you in now is real and ain’t no joke. I still want to see you win cause that’s who I am,” Murray replied.

“Same humble kid always vouched for you bro. Don’t switch the narrative for the internet,” Banchero wrote in a follow-up Story.

Banchero grew up in Seattle just like Murray, so the story adds up. Murray has had some character issues in the past, so maybe it was his rage talking for him. Whatever the case, we cannot wait to watch these two go at it next season.

Despite not returning to the title game since the 2013-2014 season, during Dejounte Murray’s tenure, the San Antonio Spurs managed to at least advance to the Playoffs in three of the six seasons played, and in one of them lost the Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors, ultimately that year’s NBA champions. It is worth mentioning that Murray did not play one season due to injury.

On an individual level, the Seattle, Washington native got to be an NBA All-Star and the league’s steals leader, both in 2022, which is no small feat. And that’s why Murray will always remember the San Antonio Spurs, especially because they accepted a painful truth for the five-time champions and allowed him to embark on a new adventure with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Spurs let Dejounte Murray go for this reason

With the joy of being officially introduced as a new player of the Atlanta Hawks. For Dejounte Murray, the Hawks traded Danilo Gallinari, three first-round draft picks and a draft swap to the San Antonio Spurs. However, the most powerful reason for Murray to leave Texas was another, and he shared it upon being introduced.

“They didn’t want to see me waste years rebuilding and stuff. They want to see me win and the best for Dejounte, and I thank them for that a lot. That’s what makes our relationship special and family forever.“, stated Dejounte according to San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn.

At least in Atlanta Hawks, the 25-year-old point guard will have a better chance to compete for something he has yet to know, the NBA title, being surrounded by the likes of De’Andre Hunter and Trae Young, who can leverage their skills in tandem with Murray to break 64 years without a championship for the Hawks.