Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
Realistically, Murray was brought over to cover for Trae Young’s porous point-of-attack defense. Young is an elite offensive engine, but it’s no exaggeration to say he’s one of the worst defenders in the NBA.
Unfortunately, the addition of Murray could bring its own issues. Specifically, Murray is a generally poor off-ball player. How is he going to compliment one of the best on-ball playmakers in the NBA without a reliable jumper?
Well, improving the general spacing in Atlanta would help. Enter Jae Crowder. With his addition, the Hawks could unlock some very interesting lineup combinations.
Imagine a “death lineup” featuring John Collins, Crowder, Deandre Hunter, Murray, and Young. With five-out spacing, suddenly Murray’s jumper becomes a more negligible concern. The Hawks could still start Clint Capela, stagger their two guards, and use this lineup at will.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks & Phoenix Suns Updates
All told, adding a skeleton key like Crowder gives your team more versatility, and with a shaky fit in the backcourt, that’ll benefit the Hawks.
What does adding Bogdanovic do for the Suns?
