As the Los Angeles Lakers continue to struggle following the In-Season Tournament it has become more evident that additions may need to be made. Contending teams like the Lakers should always be looking to improve and the last several weeks have proven that more work needs to be done in LA.
LeBron James himself has already sent a not-so-subtle message to the front office that this team is not good enough to compete with the best of the best. If the Lakers want to capitalize on the shrinking title window with LeBron then the front office may need to cave into any potential pressure from James.
In classic NBA fashion, a new intriguing trade target has emerged for the purple and gold just a day after LeBron's message. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Atlanta's Dejounte Murray may be a trade target for the purple and gold.
"One more player to keep an eye on I'm told, a potential target for the Lakers, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray."@ShamsCharania on potential trade targets for the Lakers.
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 26, 2023
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Dejounte Murray could be the Lakers' big swing at the trade deadline
The Hawks are not in a position to contend and the Trae Young-Murray partnership has not worked at all. The two guards have not meshed like the Hawks were hoping and it might be time for Atlanta to cut the losses now before the situation gets really ugly.
While Murray has not been great in Atlanta, he is still a very talented two-way player on a really great contract — which makes him an expensive trade target. Murray is under contract for four more years (the fourth being a player option) with a contract that doesn't cross $30 million until the last year. With the cap continuing to grow, this is exceptional value.
So what if the Lakers were serious about a Murray trade? What would a package even look like? Let's dive into the package itself before handing out grades for both teams.