![]() But San Antonio's period of transition afforded him more control over the offense and facilitated an ascension that had many believing he'd forgo extension talks because he'd be a max-contract candidate on the open market. ![]() The Hawks are a better team than the Spurs on paper. To that end, Murray has a lot riding on this move, too. Anything less than fringe title contention by that time is a disappointment-particularly with Murray scheduled for free agency in 2024. They just forfeited control of three unprotected first-rounders when accounting for the 2026 swap. How well the Hawks fare following this trade matters a great deal. Space could get tight in the half-court-or at the very least a little complicated-when playing with Clint Capela. But he still likes to live inside the arc and isn't your conventional quick-twitch off-the-bounce jump shooter. He also ranked fourth under the same criteria (minimum five games played) in 2020-21, sixth in 2019-20 and ninth in 2018-19.Īssuming Young will cede agency over a chunk of possessions and has zero issue inciting mayhem away from the ball, are we sure, with absolute certainty, Murray is the creator who can take advantage of it? He has made strides with his changes in pace, reads in transition and pick-and-roll ball control. Over 83 percent of his made baskets went unassisted last season, the fourth-largest share among 96 players who averaged more than 30 minutes per game. We have no idea what Young would look like as part of a backcourt cooperative because we've yet to see it. The idea of displacing Trae from the ball and leveraging his shooting into off-ball mayhem is drool-inducing. Whether his partnership with Young unfolds as seamlessly is a separate matter. The Hawks were better than bearable with both Wright and Bogdan Bogdanovic on the floor, but either way, Murray improves the Trae-less stretches. Those minutes remained a problem last season. But Murray has additional layers to his armory that uniquely qualify him to bolster lineups without Trae Young. The latter is a more-than-capable backup and running mate. Murray is a more talented table-setter and self-creator-and, recently, even a more efficient finisher around the basket-than Delon Wright. Just so we're clear: That's different from saying it's the wrong call. Integrating Dejounte Murray into the offense is much less of a no-brainer proposition. The Hawks still need to add another plus defender-and, frankly, further consolidate the roster-but they now have clearer paths to lineup packages with net-positive stopping power. Murray is an upgrade over both, and his presence has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the defense. The difference now, though, is the Hawks have someone other than De'Andre Hunter or Delon Wright (unrestricted) to use at the point of attack (and elsewhere). Their megastar maestro has shown he can put up more of a fight on the ball when he plays with thrust, but 6'1" guards who aren't built like miniature Mack Trucks are always easier to manipulate and relentlessly targeted by opposing offenses.Ītlanta must still find places to stash Young. That is, quite literally, everything the Hawks need in the backcourt beside Trae Young. Nobody on the Spurs last season spent more time guarding No. He can guard the other team's best perimeter ball-handler, almost without exception. He is hell on Earth to screen it's like he can teleport through or around bodies.Īnd while there are bigger guards, Murray's length is indiscriminately disruptive, and it scales to both smaller point-of-attack assignments and wing responsibilities. Murray isn't huge, at 6'4", but his length gives him a human-eclipse feel. Dejounte Murray fits like a glove within Atlanta's defense-in no small part because he actually plays it.įew players are as ubiquitous in passing lanes, both on and away from the ball.
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