After a lot of trial and error and speculations, the Atlanta Hawks decided to move on from one of their stars. The New Orleans Pelicans, looking to swiftly emerge as a threat, believe Dejounte Murray would be just the right guard to upgrade their core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum.

Adrian Wojnarowski had emerged with the shocking trade news on Friday. ESPN’s official Instagram page posted the announcement with the full details of the whole trade. New Orleans had to give up veteran forward Larry Nance Jr., guard Dyson Daniels, and two first-round picks for Murray. The first was a 2025 first-round pick via the Lakers. And the second was the least favorable to a 2027 first-round pick from either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Pelicans.

As soon as the news dropped, the immediate question was, ‘Was Trae Young next?’ The 6’1 point guard has been the topic of many trade rumors for a long time. ‘Ice Trae’ even added fuel to the whole trade rumor bandwagon with a cryptic hourglass tweet after the announcement of JJ Redick as the Lakers‘ head coach. So, naturally, it was considered being a hint at Young’s interest in joining Redick’s team.

And Rob Pelinka seemed just as motivated to make that wish come true. The Purple & Gold have been on the hunt for a third superstar to join the ranks of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd had recently provided a detailed blueprint of how it would be beneficial despite it likely coming at a steep price. “I do think Trae Young would work here. It feels like something AD would like because Trae Young would space the floor. It’d be harder to collapse,” the veteran analyst explained.

He further pointed out the Lakers’ glaring issue, that of three-point shooting. It was something they could efficiently address with Young on board. “Trae Young’s an elite three ball, a true point guard. At least in 2024, he’s a point guard. And he’s a playmaker. So LeBron wouldn’t have to be the overwhelming playmaker every time down the floor. Trey Young could do some of that. LeBron could play off the ball occasionally, conserve some energy.” 

Bron would definitely need to conserve all the energy he can if the Purple & Gold are planning to make a deep playoff run. The man is rapidly approaching 40. Although the ‘L Train’ is still huffing and puffing like his prime, no one can deny the occasional coughs that mar his performance.

So, while the narrative of Dejounte Murray, who was also initially predicted to be a trade interest of the Lakers, with them pursuing him during the trade deadline, has come to an end, Murray is embarking on a new chapter with the Pelicans.

Dejounte Murray bids adieu to the failed experiment with Trae Young and the Hawks

In an episode of ‘From the Point by Trae Young’ the Washington product provided a direct and simple reason why Atlanta‘s hopes were dashed involving the pair. “We’re two point guards. Let’s just make that clear: two point guards.” Centering a contending team with two ball-dominant guards wasn’t clearly the best route to take, as the Blackhawks learned the hard way.

Although Young likes to have the ball in his hand, the 25-year-old is also a gifted passer. He averaged 10.8 assists, a career-high, in 54 games in 2023-24. Dejounte Murray, for his part, had only 6.4 assists per game despite playing 24 games more than Trae. As Draymond Green also pointed out in his latest episode of his podcast regarding Bronny James and Isaiah Collier, point guards have a hard time without the ball in their hands. Or at least, without another point guard feeding them the ball.

Add the fact that the two also have a similar playing style, with playmaking being their specialty. Which, in turn, meant the availability of the ball was important. Anyway, with Dejounte Murray leaving it all behind to begin anew with the Pelicans, we are likely to hear a Trae Young move soon.

As to the destination, well, Pelinka would love to have him join JJ Redick and boys, especially with their No. 17 sharpshooter Dalton Knecht also in the mix. But the asking price would potentially mean a dip in their depth.

Will the Lakers be willing to sacrifice it for the 3x All-Star? Or perhaps, the paramount question is, can they afford to lose it? Let us know your thoughts on the matter.

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the alleged Shaq and Kobe Lakers beef. Keep checking this space for more such updates.

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