Hawks swap All-Stars with Pelicans in Bleacher Report trade idea

The Hawks are expected to trade one of Dejounte Murray or Trae Young this offseason.

The All-Star point guard duo just hasn’t worked out. Both can excel with the other on the bench, but the pair are clearly not the best version of themselves when playing together.

That much is clear; one has to go. However, what’s less obvious is which one the Hawks should trade.

If you’re asking me, it shouldn’t even be an argument. Filling out a defensive-centric roster around Trae Young, one with menacing size and physicality, is much easier than trying to replace Young’s offensive ability and star power.

Dejounte Murray isn’t going to get the Hawks the type of return they initially gave up, but if a deal like the one Bleacher Report put forth comes across Landry Fields’ desk, I think it would be a no-brainer.

Like the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Atlanta Hawks also have an ill-fitting backcourt that seems destined to be broken up this offseason. And much like the Cavaliers, the Hawks could surprise everyone by trading the player who seems less likely to be moved.

In this case, that’s Murray, whose playmaking and defensive versatility could bump CJ McCollum back to his natural shooting guard position. He could help create more easy buckets for Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and AJ Griffin, a young potential sharpshooter who fell out of Atlanta’s rotation this season.

For the Hawks, this would be a bet on Young, who’s been their cornerstone since they drafted him in 2018. While Ingram’s mid-range-heavy shot diet isn’t the most modern approach, Young has the playmaking ability to get him more open looks all over the floor.

According to Marc Stein, the overwhelming expectation is that New Orleans will trade Brandon Ingram this offseason, and the Hawks have been mentioned as trade suitors.

A Hawks trade for Brandon Ingram seems more likely than any other, considering Atlanta was the betting favorite to land the former lottery pick. On paper, the fit between the Hawks and Pelicans makes sense.

Ingram and Zion Williamson haven’t been great complements, similar to the way Trae Young and Dejounte Murray have fared in Atlanta. The Pels need a point guard, and the Hawks need to move one of their All-Stars.

Swapping Murray for Ingram may make the most sense for both parties, as they hope to remain competitive rather than undergoing yet another rebuild.

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Photographer: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire