Why Lakers Need Dejounte Murray Now More Than Trae Young Later

The Lakers #1 priority should be to trade for Dejounte Murray right now even if it costs them multiple picks and swaps and a young star like Austin Reaves rather than saving picks to trade for Trae Young next summer.

Frankly, talk of the Lakers not trading their one available first round pick before the February 8 deadline so they could offer three first round picks for a superstar next summer is probably just posturing by Los Angeles.
The Lakers do not want to tie up their salary cap and roster flexibility by trading for a third superstar making over $40 million per year who can’t play defense and leaves the team unable to build a championship roster.

What the Lakers want is to find a potential superstar guard who’s stuck in a situation where he cannot be the best version of himself, a player who has the upside to be a superstar but is still on an affordable, tradable contract.
Specifically, the Los Angeles Lakers want to trade for an impact player who can immediately make them a dramatically better team, like Tyrese Haliburton did for the Pacers or O.G. Anunoby for the New York Knicks.

Watching Dejounte Murray dominate and lead the Hawks to an impressive blowout win, there’s no longer any question whether Dejounte Murray is the right fit for what the Lakers need to become legitimate contenders.

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The Lakers appear now to be laser focused on trading for Hawks’ Dejounte Murray, whom they believe can return to being an all-star and all defensive NBA player once freed from playing next to ball dominant Trae Young.

Dejounte Murray’s unique blend of speed and athleticism, shooting and playmaking, offense and defense, and age and contract are a better fit to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis than superstar Trae Young.
At 27-years old and capable of playing at a star level at both ends of the court, Murray is much better fit on the Lakers than Young, who would be L.A.’s logical target next summer if they ultimately pass on Dejounte.

The Lakers envision Dejounte Murray as the elite point-of-attack defender they need to anchor their perimeter defense, a bigger and better version of Dennis Schroder who also can be an All-Star scorer and offensive player.
Murray dissected the Lakers defense as he dominated his Lakers’ audition, using his great speed and athleticism to beat his defender to spots where he could easily elevate and sink wide-open 10-foot jumpers to close out game.

The Lakers have committed to a roster building philosophy that focuses on acquiring and developing talented young players who have not lived up to their promise but could thrive if given the right opportunity with L.A.

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Dejounte Murray is the right candidate for the Lakers to invest in as their two-way point guard of the future. Still only 27, Dejounte has the raw speed and athleticism and elite shooting and playmaking to be a future star.

Right now, the Lakers are trying to get as much leverage as possible to avoid giving up Austin Reaves, which is why all the talk about saving the pick until next summer and possible trades with the Nets for 3&D wings.
The Lakers also know they must make a major move and that the time to make that move is now because this could be the Lakers and LeBron James’ final chance to win another NBA championship before the King retires.

Waiting until next summer is too late. If the Lakers don’t trade the pick and land Dejounte Murray, they seriously risk LeBron James deciding to decline his player option for next season and becoming an unrestricted free agent.
LeBron James walking away is the nuclear outcome Pelinka must avoid at all costs. While LeBron may no longer be able to dominate an entire series like he once could, he’s still a top-10 NBA player and the franchise face.

The Los Angeles Lakers have no choice but to go all-in on a blockbuster trade for the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray to become their point guard of the future, even if it costs multiple picks and swaps and Austin Reaves.