The New York Knicks will face heavy competition to obtain their All-Star trade target, as the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Dejounte Murray. Murray, who joined the Atlanta Hawks after being traded by the San Antonio Spurs, might have an influence on the Lakers or the Knicks.
One may argue that Los Angeles is in a much worse situation than New York, making this deal more favorable to the Lakers. Murray would, however, add value to the Knicks’ already outstanding squad. According to Shams Charania of “Run It Back” on FanDuelTV, the Lakers are interested in Murray on the morning of January 9, the day he became trade eligible.
“The Lakers are suitors, as we discussed. They have a need, I believe, for that role. And we’re still waiting to see how his market plays out,” Charania said.
Los Angeles has looked at methods to enhance their roster this season and may overpay owing to their current situation: Due to LeBron James’ age, the Lakers are most likely in one of their final years as a contender. They are not a championship-caliber roster as they now stand.
The Lakers Need Dejounte Murray More Than the Knicks
The Knicks have won four straight games after dealing for OG Anunoby, indicating that they are in an excellent position moving forward. While that transaction may not have made them as good as teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, they can still compete. It will not be easy to win a series, but the Knicks have the talent to do so if they perform well.
For the Lakers, this season has been difficult. They are 18-19 and have lost three of their previous ten games, putting them below.500. Given the media buzz surrounding the season, many expected the Lakers to be one of the best teams in basketball. Instead, they compete for a Western Conference playoff spot.
NBA source Marc Stein said on January 5 that the Lakers and Knicks were interested in Murray.
“My podcast colleague Chris Haynes of Turner Sports indicated on a Bleacher Report broadcast Friday that Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers are potential suitors for [Dejounte] Murray. The Knicks have also been considered as a potential team for Murray,” Stein noted in his Substack newsletter.
With both teams showing interest, the Lakers may have to improve their offer to beat the Knicks for the former All-Star. It’s vital to remember that the Knicks have stronger draft picks.
Who Will Land Dejounte Murray?
It’s difficult to determine who will win the contest for Murray. If the Knicks want to make a deal for him, they have enough to do so.
On the other side, the Lakers might be bold and try to provide a better deal, albeit this is unlikely given their limited assets. As the trade deadline approaches, Murray may be on the move in the coming weeks. Atlanta has wanted to trade him, and given the interested parties, they might get a good return following a poor two years for the Hawks.
Leave a Reply