Some people around the NBA believe Atlanta Hawks stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray have a bad relationship.
However, Young and Murray said on Young’s podcast, “From The Point,” that they have a great relationship.
Young and Murray have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group. The Hawks are 55-60 when Murray and Young are in the lineup.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Hawks “know” they have to trade Young or Murray this summer. Both All-Stars are “point guards” and need the ball in their hands a lot.
The Los Angeles Lakers came close to acquiring Murray this season. However, a deal didn’t happen because the Hawks wanted Austin Reaves and the Lakers were not interested in parting ways with the youngster.
The Lakers are expected to try to acquire Murray again this offseason. They will also pursue a Young trade, league sources told Hoops Wire.
Murray is averaging 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks this season, while Young is averaging 26.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.2 blocks.
Multiple sources told Hoops Wire that while the Hawks will listen to Murray trade offers in the summer, they are expected to trade Young. The Lakers and San Antonio Spurs will attempt to trade for Young.
The Hawks signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension last summer. Murray will make $24.8 million next season.
Meanwhile, Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’ll make $43 million next season.
The Hawks won 41 games last season in Year 1 of the Murray-Young era and lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. Young is currently out with a finger injury and it’s unknown if he’ll play again this season.
Atlanta reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, where the team lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Since then, the Hawks haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Murray and Young have a good relationship on and off the court, but that likely won’t stop the Hawks from trading Young this offseason.
More must-reads: