The Atlanta Hawks were one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA during the 2023-24 regular season. Their blockbuster trade to acquire Dejounte Murray during the 2022 NBA offseason has not panned out as well as planned, which will lead to some major changes to the roster this summer.
Murray’s name was involved in several NBA rumors ahead of the trade deadline in February and that should continue in the coming months. Many thought that he would be the perfect partner for Trae Young in the backcourt, but that has not been the case.
On paper, the duo should mesh well. Murray is a strong defensive player who could take some of the ball-handling and playmaking responsibility off of Young’s plate. But Young has failed to thrive without the ball in his hand offensively and it takes more than one player to make up for the sieve he is defensively.
A divorce seems likely during the 2024 NBA offseason between the two. While Murray seemed like he would be on the move, more recent NBA rumors have involved Young, who could bring back a stronger package.
During a recent segment on The Carton Show on FS1, the future of the Hawks’ backcourt was a topic of discussion. Former NBA point guard Eddie House made a bold prediction about what will happen with Young this summer.
House lauded Young for the number he has produced, but it is clear having him as the star of their operation isn’t going to yield the results the Hawks want. They have tried several different combinations of players around him but nothing has come close to replicating the success they had in the 2021 NBA Playoffs when they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
It has become painfully clear Murray and Young cannot co-exist in the same backcourt. Something has to give during the 2024 NBA offseason, as one of them will be on their way out of town.
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