Dejounte Murray Is Going To Bring the Atlanta Hawks Back to the Eastern Conference Finals

In 2020, the Atlanta Hawks shocked everyone with a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Last season, they barely beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in game and it looked as if none of these guys had ever played together before but their ticket back to a deep playoff run just arrived.

Enter Dejounte Murray.

The Atlanta Hawks are trading Danilo Gallinari and multiple first-round picks to the San Antonio Spurs for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The Hawks instantly have one of the best backcourts in the East. Murray is the exact partner you need to pair with Trae Young. Trae is the size of a 5th grader so regardless of his effort, he is a complete non-factor defensively.

Dejounte is coming off a season in which he led the entire NBA in steals. He’s 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. He and DeAndre Hunter are more than capable of handling the tougher defensive assignments and Atlanta can hide Trae easier. The Hawks finished 26th in defense last season. Replacing Gallinari with Murray immediately shoots them up the rankings.

Last year, Murray averaged 21 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and 2 steals. It was the best season of his career resulting in his first all-star appearance. Sure, Murray only shot 32% from 3 but the Hawks don’t need more perimeter shooters.

They need someone capable of playmaking and running a possession instead of relying on Trae Young to do everything which often results in some of the worst shot attempts in the league. The Hawks really just chuck it from anywhere.

Trae Young can unlock a whole new level of his game if he had more off-ball opportunities. Last season, Trae shot 48% off catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. With all the comparisons to Steph Curry, Steph’s game reached Hall of Fame status when he was able to dominate both off the dribble and running off screens.

Wait, I just realized the Hawks got their Draymond Green. Dejounte is going to play the role of the defensive stopper and the lead ball-handler in transition or looking for Trae curling off a screen. Murray also can’t hit a jumper outside of the paint. He’s Draymond 2.0.

It makes even more sense when you look at the history of Hawks team president, Travis Schlenk, who previously worked for the Warriors and gets credited for selecting OG Draymond in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft.

All Dejounte Murray has to do to ensure the Hawks make the Finals is getting Trae Young to an actual barber.

As far as the San Antonio Spurs go, this trade is the only thing keeping Gregg Popovich alive during this rebuild. Popovich has probably wanted to coach Danilo Gallinari his entire career. A tall goofy European he can drink wine with and discuss Ukrainian politics.

Speaking of tall goofy Europeans, the Spurs are also clearly tanking for Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-2 French anomaly who will easily be the no. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft.

Hot take: Victor Wembanyama is the best NBA prospect EVER.

Like…this dude is straight out of a video game.
pic.twitter.com/Sv6JqVnlw2

— Guru (@DrGuru_) June 25, 2022

Really hope Murray and the Hawks enjoy this first year together because next season, they are getting bodyslammed by the Spurs when Wembayama has 50 points and 50 blocks.