Despite Dejounte Murray Trade, Atlanta Hawks Can’t Afford to Mess Up

The Atlanta Hawks’ trade of All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday shook the NBA world.

Atlanta received Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell and two first-round picks from New Orleans in exchange for Murray. It was seen as below-market value for one of the Association’s top two-way guards.

To some, this is a clear indication that general manager Landry Fields and Co. is going to blow it. With Murray and Trae Young in the mix last season, the Hawks couldn’t even make it out of the NBA Play-In tournament.

That’s highly unlikely to be the case given what the Hawks gave up for Murray in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Let us explain.

Related: Atlanta Hawks News and Rumors Update

The Atlanta Hawks can’t afford to go into full-scale rebuild mode

Every one of the Hawks’ first-round picks over the next three years will be sent to the Spurs. None of them come with protection.

There’s really no point in Atlanta embarking on a rebuild if they don’t get their picks right up front. It would just give San Antonio three absolutely huge assets to pair with Victor Wembanyama.

This means the Hawks are very likely to hang on to the aforementioned Trae Young. He has been involved in trade rumors throughout the offseason.