The best teams in the NBA typically feature an elite playmaker. Throughout the league’s history, we’ve seen this time and time again. Still, “playmaker” can mean different things to different people. Typically, we’re talking about a player who can create offense from scratch. Some create it for themselves, and some create it for their teammates.
By either measure, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks is an elite playmaker. Will the Hawks be able to build a champion around him? That remains to be seen. Young can create offense for himself and his teammates, but he’s a defensive liability. With that in mind, the Hawks tried to mitigate his issues by trading for Dejounte Murray last summer.
How’s that been working out? So far, not well. Now, the Hawks have two star-caliber playmakers in their backcourt. Unfortunately, neither is a strong play finisher. Could the Hawks break their duo up early by sending Murray to the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Trade Proposal
Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Rui Hachimura, G Gabe Vincent, F/C Jarred Vanderbilt, 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Dejounte Murray
When we look at elite playmakers in NBA history, we can’t skip over the Lakers’ LeBron James. He’s one of the best playmakers we’ve ever seen. Moreover, James has been relatively easy to build title winners around. Why is that?
Well, James isn’t just a playmaker. He’s also portable. In his prime, James could have been in the NBA without even an ounce of playmaking ability. If necessary, he could have been a 3-and-D wing. With that in mind, James can be paired with a number of different players. He can compensate for shortcomings in others.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Young? Not as much. Sure, you can pair him with one non-shooting big man. Otherwise, everyone sharing the floor with Young should be a strong defender. Everyone besides that big man should be a knockdown shooter. Building around Young isn’t necessarily easy, Should the Hawks keep trying to do it?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
We don’t know whether you can build a title winner around Young. We do know that you can put a Conference Finalist around him. After all, the Hawks have already advanced that far during Young’s tenure. So yes, they should probably keep building around him.
Drafting Young was never a mistake. Adding Murray alongside him might have been. He’s a below-average shooter, so his off-ball value when Young has the rock is minimal. By contrast, Vincent is a more suitable off-ball player – who defends well in his own right (if not on Murray’s level).
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In fact, all of the players that Atlanta is landing here are stout defenders. The Hawks would have to eventually sort out the fit between Vanderbilt, Clint Capela, and Onyeka Okongwu, but that’s fine. Meanwhile, adding this especially valuable unprotected first from an aging Lakers team is the highlight of the package. Should the Lakers give all of that up for Murray?
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
James may be one of the best playmakers in NBA history. His run is coming to an end. Even James can’t stave off retirement forever. Eventually, he’s going to have to retire. Yet, somehow, James still looked like an All-NBA caliber player for most of last season.
So, the Lakers need to capitalize on his remaining time in the NBA. This team shouldn’t be preparing for the future. For the Lakers, young players and draft capital should be a means of improving their roster. This deal would improve them considerably. Murray is the best player in this deal by a long shot.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
After all, he’s one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Murray is also a capable scorer and a strong playmaker. In all likelihood, he’d take over primary playmaking duties and allow James to move off of the ball – until crunch time, that is. When the chips are down, look for the Lakers to lean on one of the best playmakers in NBA history.
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