Do Rich Paul, Klutch not want to talk Dejounte Murray with World Wide Wes, Knicks?

Some have reported that the Knicks have an interest in Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. And a trade for Murray would make sense, given that the Knicks are said to be seeking upgrades. Or specifically, another backcourt scorer.

Along with that, the Hawks may be willing to move on from Murray, given that he and Trae Young have yet to make a real difference — with Atlanta being one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams.

But a trade of Murray to the Knicks may not be so simple, as detailed by Ian Begley of SNY.tv. 

Murray is represented by power agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. You know Paul’s name because his client list also includes the likes of LeBron James, Draymond Green and Anthony Davis, among many others.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are headed by team president Leon Rose, a former CAA agent, and William Wesley, a.k.a. World Wide Wes, a Rose crony and New York’s executive VP.

Apparently, Paul is hesitant to do business with the Knicks. Here is what Begley wrote:

“Moving Dejounte Murray would be a seismic shift for Atlanta. And it would surely require several first-round picks and young, ascending players. The Knicks can put that kind of package together. But for New York, there is an additional hurdle in a potential Murray trade. Murray is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group. The New York Daily News reported in 2022 that Klutch opposed a trade of client Zach LaVine to the Knicks.

“That dynamic is still present today. I’m told that Paul remains reluctant to do business with the Knicks, who are led by team president Leon Rose and executive vice president William Wesley. Rose and Wesley were both top agents at CAA before they took over the Knicks.”

So could that keep the Knicks from getting Murray if they are indeed interested? Not necessarily.

“Whatever the reasons are, there is a potential path forward for both the Knicks and Klutch,” Begley wrote. “I’m told that Klutch would consider changing its current stance if there is an in-person meeting between Paul and the Knicks, presumably including Rose and Wesley. Until and unless the two sides meet in person, the Klutch-Knicks Cold War will remain in place.”

Interesting. But if I’m the Knicks, I’m not getting outside my comfort zone for Murray. He’s a good guy and a really nice player, but clearly not the type of guy who will put you over the top. He was brought to the Hawks for that very reason, and they’ve actually gone in the other direction.