In life, we all make mistakes. That includes NBA general managers. The trick is to recognize a mistake and correct it. If you can do that, you should be OK in the end.
Did the Atlanta Hawks make a mistake by acquiring Dejounte Murray last summer? We won’t go that far. In theory, the acquisition made sense. Trae Young is one of the worst point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. Why not pair him with one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the NBA? Unfortunately, Murray’s poor shooting has made them a questionable fit on the offensive side of the ball.
At least, it did last year. The Hawks should take another half-season to see if new coach Quinn Snyder can make this duo work. In fact, the Hawks extended Murray this summer – they couldn’t trade him at the moment, even if they wanted to. If this duo isn’t working out as the deadline approaches, could they send him to the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Atlanta Hawks receive: G Lonzo Ball, G/F Alex Caruso, 2027 First-Round Pick (CHI), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – CHI)
Chicago Bulls receive: G Dejounte Murray
Of course, admitting to a mistake can be difficult. You’ve got to swallow your pride. Still, it’s important. If you go too long without admitting a mistake, you run the risk of compounding it.
Look at the Bulls. This team pushed hard to assemble their current roster. They surrendered quality young players and draft capital in order to do so. Meanwhile, it hasn’t gotten them very far. The Bulls invested in a win-now core, and they aren’t winning.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
What should they do next? Plenty of fans will say that the Bulls should blow up their roster. Perhaps they should. On the other hand, they could be hesitant to admit their mistake. Could they acquire Murray instead?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls are already in for a penny. Here, we’ve got them going in for a pound. This team has made a lot of sacrifices to get here. They can’t make up all the draft capital they sent out. With that in mind, they could justify simply making another win-now push.
Besides, how far could this group have gotten with Lonzo Ball? This deal partly seeks to answer that question. Murray can replace Ball’s defense – and then some – and replicate some of his playmaking. Of course, they aren’t identical players. Ball is a knockdown shooter, and again, Murray struggles in that area.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
In Chicago, it may not matter. After all, the Bulls have Nikola Vucevic – he’s the stretch big man that the Hawks are lacking. Acquiring Murray should make the Bulls a much better team. He could be the missing piece that brings this group together. Should the Hawks send him to them?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
Murray is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. There are only a handful of players ahead of him. Alex Caruso is one of them. In this deal, the Hawks don’t lose an ounce of their perimeter-stopping power. In fact, they only get stronger in that area.
Meanwhile, Caruso should be a better fit alongside Young. He’s a slightly more reliable floor spacer. Moreover, Caruso is a more frequent cutter. In essence, Caruso is an off-ball player. He’ll cover for Young’s defensive limitations while complimenting him on the other end of the floor.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
With that said, he’s not nearly as dynamic of a playmaker as Murray. That’s why we’ve got the Hawks landing an unprotected first and a swap here. Finally, Ball is on an expiring deal – the Hawks could use the cap relief. All they need to do is admit that they made a mistake.
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