After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, the Atlanta Hawks are stuck in arguably the worst position in the NBA — not good enough to contend for a championship but not bad enough to secure a top-five pick in the draft.
Atlanta’s front office will have their hands full this offseason. There are some tough decisions on the horizon as they look to put the organization in the best position possible going forward.
Their upcoming free-agent class is not of much concern, with Saddiq Bey and Garrison Mathews highlighting the small bunch. The lack of draft capital over the next four seasons was not expected to become a problem, but the pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray hasn't lived up to expectations, with the Hawks posting records of 36-46 and 41-41 in the tandem’s two seasons together. While the Hawks have their first-round pick this year, the San Antonio Spurs own Atlanta’s 2025 first-rounder and 2027 first-rounder along with a swap in 2026 due to the Murray trade.
If the front office decides to give up on this current iteration of the team, other franchises would waste no time picking up the phone in hopes of trading for Young or Murray. Both players would draw significant interest from rival front offices.
Should the Hawks part ways with Dejounte Murray?
Murray has three more guaranteed years remaining on his contract as well as a $31,619,506 player option for the 2027-28 season. However, it seems unlikely that Murray will remain in Atlanta for the duration of his deal. Murray's lack of individual production has been frustrating for him and the franchise, especially considering the Hawks gave up three first-round picks and a pick swap for the one-time All-Star. He has averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds on 46.2% shooting from the field and 35.5% from 3-point range in Atlanta.
A reunion with the Spurs is not out of the equation, especially with San Antonio’s rebuild being expedited by generational talent Victor Wembanyama. Head coach Gregg Popovich is in desperate need of a playmaking point guard who can also act as a No. 2 offensive option behind Wemby. Murray fits this mold despite his numbers dipping with the Hawks, as he averaged 9.2 assists in his last year in San Antonio. The French center has yet to scratch the surface of his potential at 20 years old, but Murray could certainly speed up the process through his familiarity with the Spurs’ system.
Murray understands the Spurs' style of play so he could contribute right away, unlike other potential targets who would need an adjustment period. A package centered around Atlanta regaining some of their draft capital could be a win for both sides. It's worth noting that the Spurs were reportedly interested in reacquiring Murray prior to this year's NBA trade deadline.
"Dejounte Murray is trade eligible starting today...One team that has a level of exploratory interest I'm told, is his former team, the San Antonio Spurs."@ShamsCharania on Dejounte Murray's current situation.
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 9, 2024
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/clX8AebJXn
Another intriguing destination for Murray is the Orlando Magic, who are in an intense first-round battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their backcourt is sufficient in the depth department with Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, and Anthony Black (plus impending free agent Markelle Fultz), but it lacks serious star power. Murray has the potential to push them over the hump and make them a true contender in the East alongside the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Would Orlando be willing to part with Black and cap filler to bring in Murray?
Has Trae Young played his final game with the Hawks?
It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that Young may have played his final game in a Hawks uniform, but their downward spiral in recent years makes it impossible to ignore. His play has remained relatively consistent, with his playmaking improving in each of his six seasons. This season, he averaged a career-high 10.8 assists to go along with 25.7 points. The reality is the team stands no chance against the NBA’s powerhouses with Young and Murray as the top options.
With that said, at 25 years old, it’s not too late to build around the former No. 5 overall pick. Finding gems in upcoming draft classes with acquired picks is the key if they choose to keep Young.
Alternatively, if the Hawks decide to part ways with Young, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are always looking to make an offseason splash. Los Angeles is running out of time with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as their centerpieces, with James turning 40 years old at the end of this year. Inconsistencies in their guard pairing of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves have been their biggest issue in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Acquiring Young would solidify their Big Three as one the best in the Western Conference, perhaps allowing them to challenge the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, Young meshes with the Pelicans' time frame to near perfection. Their core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III are all between the ages of 23–26. Young and Williamson would form a nice one-two punch, with Young being able to carry the load if Williamson is sidelined (as he has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his time in the league).
The option of trading both star guards is also on the table if Atlanta wishes to start fresh and rebuild from the ground up, but re-acquiring their picks is a must if that route is their preferred choice.
