In the lead-up to the February 8 trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers are actively seeking to bolster their backcourt, with the Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray emerging as their primary target.
While the Lakers are reportedly willing to part ways with D’Angelo Russell to acquire Murray, the Hawks have shown little interest in the 27-year-old point guard.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers’ stance is clear in trade discussions—third-year guard Austin Reaves holds higher value for them, almost deemed untradeable by the purple and gold.
Buha states, “If the Lakers have to move on from one of their lead guards, Russell makes more sense, even with him outplaying Reaves for portions of the season. There’s a reason why every team asks for Reaves first: He has more leaguewide value.”
The Lakers’ preference for Reaves over Russell remains unwavering, despite Russell’s notable performances throughout the season.
Team sources suggest that the Lakers perceive trades involving Russell for players like Portland’s Malcolm Brogdon, Washington’s Tyus Jones, or Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie as, at best, lateral moves and, more likely, downgrades.
However, Murray stands out as an exception to this perspective, solidifying the Lakers’ commitment to pursuing the talented Hawks guard as a potential game-changing addition to their roster.
