Report: Lakers Could Pursue Trades For Dejounte Murray, Collin Sexton

According to NBA insider Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue trades for Dejounte Murray and Collin Sexton.

The Atlanta Hawks are open to trading Murray for the right price, while the Utah Jazz are in the same boat with Sexton. 

“The Lakers likely will explore the trade market to see what type of veterans they can add to give LeBron James, Anthony Davis and new coach JJ Redick the best chance of competing this season, with NBA names such as Dejounte Murray and Collin Sexton being batted around by rival teams as possible targets,” Givony wrote. 

The Lakers tried to acquire Murray at the 2024 trade deadline. Murray, who has a close relationship with LeBron, has the same agent (Rich Paul) as LeBron and Davis. 

One of the best two-way players in the NBA, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 79.4% from the free-throw line.

The Hawks signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension in July 2023. Murray will make $24.8 million next season. 

Murray has career averages of 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs and Hawks.

Sexton averaged 18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 2023-24 while shooting 48.7% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 85.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $18.4 million next season. 

Sexton has career averages of 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. 

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. 

D’Angelo Russell can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers. The lefty would likely get traded if Murray or Sexton landed in Los Angeles. 

Russell appeared in 76 games for the Lakers in 2023-24. He averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field, 41.5% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free-throw line.