While the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly been very “aggressive” to try and complete a trade for Dejounte Murray it seems they will need a third team to get involved to have any chance of completing a deal.
Due to another disappointing first half this season, the Lakers have again been inundated with rumors and speculation about the organization being active before the NBA trade deadline. However, last year the franchise seemed to have a bit more flexibility to make moves on the trade block.
This time around the contracts they currently have are making it much harder to complete a blockbuster deal for a top player up for grabs. On Wednesday, Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that “The Lakers appear to have made the most aggressive known bid to date for [Dejounte] Murray. Los Angeles has been willing to include a 2029 first-round pick plus a pick swap in its attempts to land the Hawks guard,” sources claimed.
Los Angeles Lakers trade package for Dejounte Murray failing for two key reasons
The Atlanta Hawks star is, arguably, the biggest name on the trade block currently and it means there is a lot of competition on the market for his services. That gives Atlanta a lot of leverage to get the best return possible, and it seems the Lakers offering veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell in a potential deal is not at all what the Hawks want for two key reasons.
“Atlanta is searching for a better player return than Russell, sources said, and the Hawks seem to prefer not taking back future salary, leaving the possibility for another three-team deal at the deadline,” Fischer wrote.
The one-time All-Star has an $18.6 million player option for next season and is unlikely to decline it. The organization reportedly prefers to add him to trades instead of Austin Reaves. However, even if they were willing to part with Reaves, the years left on the four-year, $56 million deal he signed this summer may not appeal to Atlanta either.
Furthermore, recent reports have suggested the Hawks are looking for two premium first-round picks in a deal for the one-time All-Star.
Related: NBA trade deadline – Why Los Angeles Lakers’ continuity is better play than making a dramatic trade