Will Lakers Make Another Run At Hawks’ Dejounte Murray?

June 20, 2024

Granted, the Los Angeles Lakers still need a coach, but it’s never too soon to start thinking about roster moves, coach or not.

And after nearly being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, there are moves to be made.

First order of business is re-signing LeBron James. He may be turning 40 years old next season, but he remains their greatest hope of winning. You also have to start preparing for the reality that James’ game will soon fade. Most guys don’t suddenly get better at 40. Not when most everyone else is in their 20s or 30s.

After that, the Lakers should explore acquiring another high-octane fit alongside James and Anthony Davis. They likely will.

ESPN suggested as much in a piece entitled, “How all 30 teams can nail their offseason,” specifically linking the Lakers to Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray — a player they reportedly targeted before the February deadline.

“As soon as they make the No. 17 pick in this month’s draft, the Lakers can trade that pick along with first-round picks in 2029 and 2031, which should be plenty to land Murray from the Hawks,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. “If the Lakers can use the 55th pick to draft Bronny James, helping convince LeBron James to re-sign long term this summer or extend after exercising his player option, all the better.

Granted, it’s fair to wonder if Murray would be enough to help the Lakers rise in a wildly tough Western Conference. So there would be some danger in mortgaging the future for a win-big-now mindset, especially if that approach doesn’t work.

The Lakers don’t rebuild, they retool. That will be the goal this offseason. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best possible approach.