In the summer of 2022, the Atlanta Hawks, fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, made a bold move to acquire Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs. The trade, which involved significant draft capital, was seen as a necessary step to elevate the team’s ceiling and alleviate the pressure on star guard Trae Young.
The Hawks’ Risky Gamble
It was evident that the Hawks needed an extra ball handler to take the pressure off of Trae Young and they made a very pricey move to get Dejounte Murray from the Spurs. Two years later, 2024, Murray is now on the New Orleans Pelicans but the Murray experiment in 2022 has proven to be a costly misstep. The fit between Murray and Young never materialized, and the Hawks’ defensive woes persisted. The trade has left the franchise in a precarious position, with limited flexibility and a long road to recovery.
A Haunting Decision
It is said that the trade still haunts the Atlanta Hawks. It might be a controversial pick, since Atlanta’s decision at the 2018 draft to swap out Luka Dončić for Trae Young and a first-round pick later spent on Cam Reddish could lead to a lifetime of regret.
At least that choice – unforgivable as it may appear in hindsight – is behind the franchise, though. As for the Hawks’ 2022 all-in wager on Murray, though, they can’t even get the grief process started on that misfire. That’s because the damage done with that deal is ongoing.
The Price of Ambition
The true cost of the Murray trade lies in the future draft picks that Atlanta surrendered. These first-round picks in 2025, 2027, and 2026 (the latter as a pick swap), which could have been used to acquire young talent or trade assets, are now tied up with the Spurs. As a result, the Hawks are restricted in their ability to rebuild or make significant improvements to their roster. Even if they hit the draft-lottery jackpot, the prize wouldn’t belong to them.
The Hawks did well to get a pair of first round picks and Dyson Daniels for Murray, but you are also seeing the trade backfire this season. The Hawks are probably the most injury riddled team in the NBA and have lost four straight after a 2-0 start. Some of it is due to poor play, but the fact of the matter is that the Hawks just don’t have enough guys right now.
When the Hawks get fully healthy, which might not happen until December in a best-case scenario, Atlanta is a possible playoff team. Getting healthy is the No. 1 priority right now because if they can’t, it will be the Spurs who benefit the most at the end of the season. It is early, but the Hawks are in a precarious position.
