With the NBA trade deadline getting closer and closer the speculation around whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers make a trade has grown. For the Lakers, D'Angelo Russell is the most obvious trade chip while Atlanta's Dejounte Murray is the most obvious target.
Lakers fans will get a chance to see Murray up close and personal on Tuesday as the Lakers take on the Hawks in their building. With the two teams in the same place, fans are hopeful that it could accelerate trade talks and potentially lead to a deal.
Unfortunately, Tuesday's game might be the closest that the Lakers get to seeing Murray don the purple and gold. Despite all of the trade chatter leading up to this point, recent reports indicate that a deal likely won't be made.
In his latest report, NBA insider Marc Stein outlined that Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder has lobbied the front office to keep Murray past the trade deadline. The Hawks already seemed to be on the fence over trading Murray, and if he is getting the support of his head coach it may stop the trade dead in its tracks.
Dejounte Murray trade always felt too good to be true for the Lakers
It doesn't look like the Lakers are going to make a trade for Murray at the deadline and in hindsight, trading for the two-way guard always seemed too good to be true. While he has not been at his best in Atlanta, he is still a very valuable piece and what the Lakers can offer simply is not enough.
The latest deal that was speculated was one that sent D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets with Spencer Dinwiddie and a Lakers' 2029 first to Atlanta. That simply is not enough to trade for a player with Murray's ceiling who is on an exceptional contract for another four seasons.
The only way that a deal actually seems feasible and worth doing for the Hawks is if Austin Reaves was included but that is something that the Lakers are against doing. Los Angeles has set a high price for Reaves on the trade market even though his advanced numbers look nothing like someone's who should be untouchable.
Now the Lakers have a little over one week to pivot if the team still wants to make a move at the trade deadline. Los Angeles may not be able to trade for Murray but there are still some talented trade targets that can give the team a boost this season.