Playoff team expected to re-engage Hawks in trade talks amid preference rumors

The Atlanta Hawks may not be the only team whose offseason is shaped by the decision they make with their All-Star backcourt duo. One in particular should engage them in business negotiations and they might have a preference.

The Hawks dangled Dejounte Murray on the trade market ahead of the February deadline, entering into talks with several teams, according to reports.

One of those teams was apparently the New Orleans Pelicans, who could go back.

“The Pelicans had contact with…the Atlanta Hawks prior to the February trade deadline. Expect these talks to resume this summer,” wrote Christian Clark of NOLA.com on May 26. “If the Pelicans re-sign the Hawks, they could look to move away Murray or Young. Even though Young is the more talented player, the Pelicans appear to be more interested in Murray, league sources said. The 6-5 Murray isn’t as much of a defensive liability as the 6-1 Young can be.

Arguments for Murray over Young have also emerged this season, with the latter showcasing his qualities as a primary ball handler rather than an off-ball threat. Murray averaged 24.8 points and 9.2 assists per game during Young’s 23-game absence following finger surgery.

Murray also benefits from a cheaper four-year, $114 million contract. Young still owes him $138 million over the next three years.

Young also has an early termination option for the 2026-27 season. He maintains that he wants to stay.

Clark writes that Young could “raise the Pelicans’ ceiling” more than any other option, suggesting that a trade landing the three-time All-Star would be an “interesting bet on talent.” New Orleans entered the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, but was eliminated in the first round.

Williamson seemed to hint that he wanted the Hawks to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Atlanta selected Jaxson Hayes with the No. 8 overall pick.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a package for De’Andre Hunter before the season.

Notably, Pelicans forward Herb Jones was also part of this deal as a future second-round pick. It was said that the Hawks “covet” Jones before this year’s trade deadline in discussions that revolved around Murray, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic on FanDuel TV in February.

New Orleans had no interest in making this deal, which proved to be wise as Jones earned All-Defensive honors this season.

Maybe the idea of ​​landing Young would persuade them otherwise.

Either scenario could allow the Hawks to land Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans should “aggressively” look for new accommodation for the one-time All-Star this offseason, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line on May 12.

The Hawks were among the teams Stein linked to Ingram — who is entering the final year of a four-year contract worth $158.3 million — in his report.

Atlanta also saw negotiations with the Los Angeles Lakers collapse over supposed compensation in a potential four-team deal that would have sent Murray to the purple and gold. Young was among Lakers players Jovan Buha said was on Los Angeles’ list of offseason targets.

But Murray is a Customer of the Klutch Sports Group like Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Young left Klutch for rival CAA this offseason. CAA is also The Williamson Agency, which creates a strong bond between the two stars. But Clark expects the Pelicans to also re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason.

While there is budding internal optimism Mitchell will re-sign with the Cavs to an extension, he too is a CAA client. Mitchell is a domino that might have to fall before Young’s market developed.

It remains to be seen where this all leads.