The Los Angeles Lakers might need to include Austin Reaves if they wish to secure a trade for Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray, according to information obtained by Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
Woike revealed that in previous trade discussions with the New York Knicks, the Hawks sought Immanuel Quickley and a first-round pick for Murray.
The Hawks are looking to recoup a substantial value close to what they invested in Murray a season and a half ago. Their previous front office gave up three first-round picks, including two unprotected ones, and an unprotected pick swap to acquire Murray from the San Antonio Spurs, who are also interested in bringing back their former All-Star guard.
Woike mentioned that if the cost to acquire Murray involves a first-round pick and a young player ready to contribute immediately, the Lakers might need to include Reaves in the deal. While there have been no talks about trading Reaves, the Lakers are interested in someone who can serve as a point-of-attack defender, a role that Murray fits.
There have been discussions about the possibility of an expanded trade if Reaves is included in the deal. Zach Lowe of ESPN mentioned a potential larger trade where the Lakers acquire not only Murray but also sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovich from the Hawks. However, such a complex deal, involving players like Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and additional draft compensation, presents challenges, especially considering the Lakers’ salary cap situation.
If the Hawks insist on a Reaves-for-Murray swap without additional compensation, NBA insider Bobby Marks suggested an alternative trade involving Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan. Marks proposed that the Lakers could explore trading Reaves for the pair, with DeRozan providing a scoring boost and Caruso addressing the Lakers’ perimeter defensive needs. However, it’s worth noting that the Chicago Bulls have not indicated Caruso’s availability in trade discussions.
