The Los Angeles Lakers saw their quest to win another NBA title end prematurely, eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2023-24 playoffs.
The result? Greater desperation to get back and compete for the top prize in the game, beginning with the dismissal of head coach Darvin Ham and the hiring of ESPN analyst and former NBA player JJ Redick for the position.
A roster makeover may be next.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray is expected to be on the trade block this off-season and predicted the Lakers as a potential landing spot.
Adding Murray would be an upgrade for a Lakers team that needs it in order to realistically compete in a loaded Western Conference.
Coming off a star-making run in the 2022-23 playoffs, Austin Reaves underwhelmed in his first season as the starting shooting guard for the Lakers. With D’Angelo Russell all but gone via free agency, the team will greatly need to improve its guard situation.
Murray is coming off a year in which he averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals for Atlanta. He played 35.7 minutes, shot 45.9 from the paint and 36.3 from beyond the arc.
He was also dependable, appearing in 78 games, the most since his 81-game 2016-17 season in San Antonio. Considering the rash of injuries that forced players to the sidelines over the course of this last season, having a star who can be counted on to play and play considerable minutes is something the Lakers need desperately.
Of course, there would be real questions about his ability to mesh with James and Davis, not to mention fit new head coach Redick’s offense.
Still, he is an explosive offensive player who could provide a spark for a Lakers team that was a middle-of-the-pack 15th in terms of offensive rating in 2023-24 with 115.4.
The Lakers still need a player who will go get offensive rebounds, a category the team ranked second-to-last in this past season, but Murray will improve the squad as a whole and ensure it can score with the best the league has to offer.