One NBA writer proposed that the Atlanta Hawks trade Dejounte Murray to the Orlando Magic for Jonathan Isaac and Anthony Black.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Hawks and Magic:
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Anthony Black, No. 18 pick, Jonathan Isaac
Orlando Magic Receive: Dejounte Murray
Murray appeared in 78 games for the Hawks this season. He averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 45.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 79.4% from the free-throw line.
Atlanta signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension in July 2023. Murray will make $24.8 million next season.
The Hawks are expected to trade Murray or Trae Young this summer, multiple NBA sources told Hoops Wire. Murray and Young have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Murray has career averages of 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs and Hawks. He turns 28 next season.
“Orlando should pounce at the opportunity to acquire Murray,” Favale wrote. “He isn’t a caps-lock SHOOTER, but he does upgrade the offense’s spacing from Black and free-agent-to-be Markelle Fultz Plus, the Magic need some semblance of a game manager. Murray isn’t the niftiest floor general, but positionally average orchestration goes a long way when Paolo Banchero is #YourGuy.
“Getting in on the ground floor of Murray’s four-year, $114.1 million deal is equally valuable. Orlando has to start thinking about second contracts for Banchero and the extension-eligible Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Murray’s below-market pact should make it easier to re-invest in the current core. And better still, this package neither exhausts the Magic’s asset stores nor nukes their capacity to carve out more than $50 million in cap space (if they so choose).”
Isaac averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Magic this season in 58 games while shooting 51.0% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc and 72.0% from the free-throw line.
“Isaac is forever a health risk whose minutes must be managed,” Favale wrote. “That’s fine. He’s entering the final year of his deal (it’s currently nonguaranteed), and Atlanta could use 15 to 20 minutes per game of Defensive Player of the Year-type energy.”
The Hawks didn’t make the playoffs this year, while the Magic are tied 2-2 with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
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