Lakers News: Top 3 Hawks Trade Targets For LA

Tonight, your Los Angeles Lakers will have an opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with their supposed top trade target for the 2023-24 NBA season: Atlanta Hawks combo guard Dejounte Murray, who was an All-Star and All-Defensive Team honoree while with the San Antonio Spurs.

But the 19-27 Atlanta Hawks actually boast a few interesting pieces that a wannabe contender like LA could conceivably strive to poach, beyond just Murray. Let’s unpack the three best fits.

Dejounte Murray

We’ve discussed just how seamless he’d be ad nauseam on this site, but to briefly sum up: he’s a cost effective two-way guard who would be an upgrade on both ends of the floor over either D’Angelo Russell (who’s somehow making as much as Murray) or LA’s beloved undrafted diamond in the rough, Austin Reaves. Adding Murray would be a no-brainer, but he’s on such a team-friendly deal that the Lakers may have major competition for acquiring his services, and because LA lacks a ton of future draft equity it could handily be outbid.

Through 45 games this year, he's averaging 21.4 points on .469/.388/.830 shooting splits, 5.1 assists and five rebounds.

De’Andre Hunter

The versatile combo forward is never healthy, and is pricey, but perhaps in a new system and with a better medical staff he could become Rob Pelinka’s latest ex-lottery pick reclamation project. In his 24 available contests, Hunter logged averages 14.9 points on a .460/.404/.907 slash line, 4.1 boards, 1.4 dimes and 0.8 steals per contest.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

This perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate would help fill the bench scoring void for a Lakers club long on frontcourt size but short on shooting depth. Bogdanvovic is earning $18.7 million this season, making him a pretty optimal trade fit with D-Lo. He'd also be an upgrade fit-wise, as Russell is something of ball hog, whereas Bogdanovic would be a cleaner off-ball partner with LeBron James. In just 28.5 minutes off the Hawks' bench, the 6'5" swingman is averaging a career-high 17.1 points on .430/.369/.903 shooting splits, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.