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As the NBA trade deadline approaches on Feb. 8, Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray is turning heads, averaging 21.4 points, five assists and five rebounds and shooting 47.1% from the field and 39% from three.
ESPN NBA analyst Bobby Marks recently predicted no player on the Hawks (18-25) is untouchable. If so, what would be the best fit for Murray, a seven-year veteran who’s only 27?
San Antonio Spurs
A reunion with the Spurs, where Murray played for the first five seasons of his NBA career, makes sense. Murray has praised his ex-coach, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, for serving as a father figure to him.
“I would welcome going back to the Spurs. But right now, I am a Hawk and I am going to stay professional and play the right way,” Murray said recently on TNT (h/t: Soaring Down South).
This move could work from a basketball perspective for the Spurs and Murray, who would create a dangerous combo with rookie Victor Wembanyama. The chance for him to be a No. 1 option on a team could be enticing for Murray as well. He deserves to be on a contender, but San Antonio (8-35) is buried in last in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers (22-22) are also in the hunt for a solid point guard, someone who could take pressure off LeBron James, 39, who still is forced to create in most games. In addition to taking the load off James, Murray could create a superior pick-and-roll game with Anthony Davis.
The Lakers could shed salary by dealing D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and others for Murray, whose presence could entice James to remain in Los Angeles for longer than he had planned.
New York Knicks
Another potential destination for Murray is the New York Knicks (26-17), who could use another ball-handler. Murray has proved he can show up in big moments (two buzzer-beater shots in the past two weeks).
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