One NBA writer has proposed that the Orlando Magic acquire Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks this summer.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes the Magic need Murray to take the next step as a franchise.
“The Orlando Magic have found a win-pretty-soon pairing in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner,” Buckley wrote. “However, their ceiling will be capped until they find a way to add more oomph to their 22nd-ranked offense.
“Murray could provide that lift. He’s been second-in-command to Young in Atlanta over the past two seasons, but Murray has averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. For reference, Banchero paced the Magic with 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists. In other words, Murray could walk into a 1A-1B partnership with Banchero, allowing Wagner to fall into the tertiary role he’s perhaps better equipped to handle.”
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.
The Hawks are expected to trade Murray or Trae Young this offseason, multiple sources told Hoops Wire. Murray and Young have the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
Atlanta signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension in July 2023. Murray will make $24.8 million next season.
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.
All signs point toward the Magic losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Orlando is down 2-0.
The Hawks missed the playoffs this season. They lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 play-in tournament game.
“The Hawks, meanwhile, might accept a package featuring a pair of first-round picks, Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony,” Buckley wrote. “That package is a bit backcourt-heavy for a Young-led team, but Suggs could be the backcourt stopper whom Young desperately needs alongside him, and Anthony could keep the offense humming when Young needs a breather. Atlanta’s offense was 3.4 points worse per 100 possessions without him, and that was actually on the low end of his annual on-off splits.”
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