A new report claims the Atlanta Hawks could move one of their best players a year after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade.
The Atlanta Hawks’ 2022-2023 campaign was a major letdown. After taking a bit of a step back in performance last season, there was a lot of hope this that the team could recapture the form that helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Especially following a major summer trade for Dejounte Murray.
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There was a belief that the San Antonio Spurs star and the team’s top player, Trae Young, could form a dynamic backcourt duo that could take the Eastern Conference by storm. Unfortunately, they never came anywhere near doing that as the Atlanta Hawks finished 41-41 during a season filled with locker room and front office drama that hit a low with the winter firing of head coach Nate McMillan.
With new head coach Quinn Snyder currently building out his coaching staff, there is a belief that Atlanta Hawks should be better in 2023-2024. However, if they are, that could be without the one-time All-Star guard.
- Dejounte Murray stats (’22-’23): 20.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 34% 3PT
Atlanta Hawks could soon place Dejounte Murray on trade block
On Friday, Bleacher Report NBA insider Eric Pincus reported that “The team is believed to be looking for a home for John Collins, but some whispers abound that Dejounte Murray could be had in the right deal.”
The shocking revelation has a reasoning based on the team’s finances. The organization is set to pay over $17 million in luxury tax penalties if they don’t shed some salary soon. While they prefer to move other players before Murray, he may be the most appealing salary dump to other teams.
Furthermore, Pincus reported that there are some concerns Murray may not stick around with the Atlanta Hawks past this season and opt out of his current deal next summer to get a big annual raise next summer. This means Dejounte Murray could be far more expendable than originally thought.