Rumor season has already begun in the NBA and the Lakers could be eyeing an Eastern Conference guard.
Los Angeles is looking at the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray as a potential trade target, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The NBA Insider pointed to Murray as a possible target during an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back” on Tuesday.
Hawks star Trae Young has long been rumored to be a player the Lakers have had their eye on, but the supposed interest in Murray comes after Los Angeles got some unfortunate injury news before Christmas.
Guard Gabe Vincent is reportedly strongly considering getting surgery on his left knee, which would keep him out for six to eight weeks.
Murray is coming off his first NBA All-Star appearance in 2022 and has been a significant contributor on both ends of the court.
The Lakers are among the teams interested in Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Getty ImagesHe has averaged 20.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game behind Young.
Murray has shot 46 percent from the floor and 38.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Lakers have also been linked to Chicago’s Zach LaVine as well, per The Athletic.
Murray’s four-year, $120 million contract extension will kick in next season, which would make him a bit more of an attractive option for the Lakers over a player like LaVine who has only two years left on his deal.
But the Lakers aren’t the only ones showing interest in Murray.
The Knicks have also been eying Murray, with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reporting last week that New York was “among several teams who’ve expressed exploratory trade interest” in the Hawks’ guard.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. Getty ImagesSNY’s Ian Begley also reported that “some prominent members” of the Knicks organization viewed Murray as an “ideal trade target.”
Murray is represented by the Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group, which could complicate any potential in the Knicks making a move for him.
According to SNY, Paul has been reluctant to to business with the Knicks in the past.
The Lakers, on the other hand, already have a number of Paul-represented players on their roster, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
