One writer came up with a trade idea involving the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks and it would land Dejounte Murray in Houston next to Jalen Green.
Kelly Iko of The Athletic proposed that the Rockets trade Kevin Porter Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, K.J. Martin and multiple draft picks to the Hawks for Murray and John Collins.
“This looks like a lot, and it is. It’s only contingent on the Hawks deciding to blow things up rather than wade in the Eastern Conference water,” Iko wrote. “Murray is the prize here, adding a tenacious two-way guard who immediately raises the floor and ceiling of a young team. In Collins, the Rockets get their hands on a player Atlanta clearly wants to move, someone they’ve been interested in and who can be a quality rim protector and lob threat.
“The Hawks gave up quite a bit in the Murray deal a year ago and would be recouping some of their lost assets. But in reality, do the Rockets even see a combination of Murray and Collins as the way to go, considering how much of their cap space both players would consume?”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Houston Rockets Updates
Murray averaged 20.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Hawks this season while shooting 46.4% from the field, 34.4% from beyond the arc and 83.2% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Collins put up 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50.8% overall.
The Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games. The Rockets, meanwhile, won only 22 games. However, they were in rebuild mode and got the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets could compete next season with Murray and Collins in the fold next to Green, Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. However, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic doesn’t think the Hawks will move Murray after one season.
“The problem is I don’t think the Hawks are in the mode of trading Dejounte Murray,” Schultz wrote. “They really like what he brings to the team and they gave up a lot to get him. The persistent question is whether Murray and Young can play together, and that question could be answered early next season. If it doesn’t work, I could see the Hawks using Murray as a valuable trade asset at the deadline, especially since he’ll become a free agent after the season.”
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