Most NBA pundits expect the Hawks to trade one of their All-Star point guards in Trae Young or Dejounte Murray.
There are very few instances that make sense where Atlanta moves both of them, and none without San Antonio sending their first-round picks back. I believe it’ll be Murray for a few reasons.
Firstly, the Resslers, Tony and Nick, are infatuated with Trae Young. He’s the brightest star this club has seen since Dominique Wilkins and is the only reason State Farm Arena isn’t a ghost town. They’re worried about their pockets.
Secondly, Young has a higher ceiling because he’s more dynamic offensively, even with his defensive liabilities. Young should fetch more in return, but lastly, there might be more demand for Murray, who is better defensively and on a much more palatable contract.
What kind of deal could Murray get the Hawks? Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley sees a swap of All-Stars with the Pelicans as a good idea.
The trade: Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr. and the No. 21 pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray and Clint Capela
Capela is expected to be moved, but acquiring Nance doesn’t make a lot sense for the Hawks in this one. The pair of Trae Young and Brandon Ingram is enticing, though.
He’s a 26-year-old All-Star that is on a five-year stretch of averaging at least 20 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Entering the last year of his deal, the Hawks would have to be comfortable paying him and paying him a lot.
It’s expected that Ingram wants a max contract, which would surely force Atlanta into the luxury tax, somewhere the Resslers have refused to venture. They need an impact wing, but a max-contract Brandon Ingram doesn’t feel like good value for the Hawks.
This isn’t the worst trade idea I’ve seen, but I still think the Hawks could find a better deal for Dejounte Murray, who is an All-Star and coming off the best season of his career shooting while also being a complete bargain on his current contract.
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