After another disappointing start to the season, the Atlanta Hawks were heavily rumored to be the most active team at the NBA’s annual trade deadline. However, the team came out of it making no moves whatsoever.
With Head Coach Quin Snyder in his first full year at the helm of the team, expectations were set much higher than what the outcome has been to this point. While the Hawks possess one of the association’s premier offenses, it’s the defensive end of the court where the team is more than lackluster. Atlanta’s inability to play competent defense leaves the team vulnerable to a lack of consistency on a nightly basis.
With questions about player fit and roster construction surrounding the team once again, Atlanta made it apparent that no player on the roster was deemed untouchable, with the exceptions of franchise guard Trae Young and third year breakout forward Jalen Johnson.
While trade speculation included the likes of De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey and Clint Capela, the basketball world was more focused on the status of former all-star guard Dejounte Murray. Murray, who just signed a four year $120 million extension with the organization this previous summer, was set to be the biggest commodity in this iteration of the deadline.
Atlanta initially acquired Murray from the San Antonio Spurs via trade during the 2022 off-season following Atlanta’s disappointing first round loss at the hands of the Miami Heat. The Hawks were desperate to add a two-way star facilitator next to Young in hopes of creating a perennial contender. However, with Murray’s reputation as a defender far exceeding his actual on court play, the fit concerns began to grow. This led to rumors of where Murray would suit up next, linking him to the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks.
Ultimately, Atlanta chose to stay put, not looking to buy players in an attempt to improve the roster or sell pieces and gain assets for the future. Hawk’s general manager Landry Fields pointed to specific players’ uptick in play as a main factor in doing so, and established that they weren’t looking to tank.
Still, a portion of the fanbase questioned why Murray wasn’t dealt at the deadline. Brad Rowland, host of the “Locked On Hawks” podcast, alludes that the market for Murray wasn’t where Atlanta wanted it and trading someone shouldn’t be done just for the sake of doing so.
Joshua Wilson has been an Atlanta Hawks fan for a majority of his life, and shares the same idea of trading a player just to do so would be a bad decision.
While trade talks are set to re-open in the summer, Atlanta is sure to face another heavy round of rumors regarding their players. This upcoming stretch of decisions marks one of the most pivotal chapters in the franchise’s existence as they look to find a sense of direction, and build around a star, in Trae Young, which they haven’t had since the likes of Dominique Wilkins.
