The Lakers, Hawks and Raptors are in the process of a three-way trade plan, the Lakers' goal is to get Murray and James to join forces to win the championship, the Hawks plan to bring in Siakam from the Raptors, and the trade can be made in 6 days at the earliest, and the Lakers still have a backup option!
Text: Lao Kan Kanqiu
Editor|Lao Kan Kanqiu
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the atmosphere in the league is becoming more tense and various trade rumors are rife. According to the latest news from Los Angeles Times veteran Jovan Buha, the Lakers, Hawks and Raptors are in full swing to negotiate a shocking three-way deal. This deal will greatly affect the future direction of the three teams, and will undoubtedly set off a new wave in the NBA trade market.
In the American media ESPN's program, well-known journalist Woj revealed the trade dynamics of the Atlanta Hawks. He said the Hawks are open to a trade, with general manager Landry Fields interested in making major roster changes. Among them, the most likely player to leave is starting guard Dejounte Murray. Murray and Trae Young didn't work well on the court, causing the Eagles to make a change. At the moment, teams such as the Lakers and Knicks have expressed strong interest in Murray.
The Lakers have plenty of trade chips, and fellow James and Murray manager Rich Paul is eager to trade Murray to Los Angeles. According to Jovan Buha, the Hawks have yet to make a clear statement on the Lakers' offer. In addition, the Hawks have held preliminary talks with the Raptors about a deal for Siakam, and the Raptors are optimistic about the deal package.
The Lakers, the favorites to win the championship this season, have been actively looking for opportunities to strengthen the team. According to reports, the Lakers have coveted Murray for a long time and have been hoping to acquire him through a trade to further improve the team's guard line combat. The Hawks are also looking to bring in Siakam, an All-Star caliber forward from the Raptors. Siakam can bring strong offensive and defensive strength to the Hawks, which will help the Eagles become more competitive in the Eastern Conference. And the Raptors will get some potential young players and draft picks after sending Siakam away, laying a solid foundation for the team's future development.
After sending Anunoby away, the Raptors began to pursue a trade package for Siakam. According to sources, the current asking price for Siakam by the Raptors is two rotation players and two future draft picks. Siakam is in his contract year and the 29-year-old striker is on the verge of becoming a free agent. Such an asking price has many interested teams seriously considering, after all, Siakam is a very good striker and his quality and experience are very valuable and an excellent addition to the title contenders.
"The Raptors don't plan to continue building around Siakam, but rather to include 22-year-old Scottie Barnes in their core plans for future team building. Raptors management wants to trade Siakam for some rebuilding chips before the trade deadline. Jovan Buha continued, "The Lakers, Hawks and Raptors have had several rounds of discussions about the Murray and Siakam trades, but the final trade plan will require further discussions and negotiations from multiple parties. ”
According to Jovan Buha, there are credible sources within the Lakers who are currently discussing a final step in the trade package that will involve multiple core players from the three teams, as follows: the Lakers get Murray and Temple, the Hawks get Siakam, Schroder and Christie, and the Raptors get Russell, Prince, Hunter, 2029 unprotected first-round picks (from the Hawks) and 2029 first-round top-10 protected draft picks (from the Lakers). Once finalized, the deal will give the Lakers a powerful upgrade to their point guard, reducing James' ball-handling pressure. Murray is an experienced defender who is far more effective than Russell in defensive efficiency and crunch time. His arrival will bring new energy and stability to the Lakers' backcourt.
According to an in-depth analysis by Bobby Marks, a salary expert in the American media, Murray will officially lift the trading restrictions on January 10, Beijing time. This means that he can be traded in as little as 6 days. So far this season, Murray has averaged 20.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and a consistent 38.4 percent from three-point range.
At the same time, the Lakers have options. According to Jovan Buha, some Lakers executives have suggested that if Murray cannot be brought in, the team could consider pursuing Hornets Hayward. The plan is designed to minimize the impact on the team's existing roster while avoiding overdrawing future draft picks. Hayward is also a versatile player who can play in multiple positions. He is averaging 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season. While Hayward is slightly inferior in points and rebounds per game compared to Murray, he can provide the team with more flexible tactical options.