The Milwaukee Bucks have registered interest in trading for Dejounte Murray, who is on the trade block with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
The Bucks have limited trade assets to send out in any trade following their acquisition of Jrue Holiday in 2020 and the subsequent trade for Damian Lillard in 2023.
Murray signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Hawks during the 2023 offseason and was recently made available in trade talks.
Dejounte Murray appears to be one of the more available players via trade in the NBA and at least part of that reasoning is because the Atlanta Hawks continue to find the idea of trade Trae Young as “unpalatable,” sources tell ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
Young signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in 2021 and is signed through 25-26 with a player option for 26-27.
Because the Hawks owe future first round picks to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the 2022 trade for Murray, a complete rebuild initiated by trading away Young would be illogical.
Young guided the Hawks to the Conference Finals in 2021 and has continued to put up All-Star quality numbers, but there are lingering concerns about his liability on defense and efficiency numbers that put him below the superstar realm.
The Indiana Pacers reached out to the Utah Jazz about the potential availability of Lauri Markkanen before they eventually pivoted to a trade for Pascal Siakam, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.
The Jazz showed zero interest in trading Markkanen, sources tell Lowe.
Markkanen has emerged as an All-Star since joining the Jazz and by all accounts they would need a team to grossly overpay to consider moving him.
Markkanen is signed through the 24-25 season and has expressed interest in remaining with the Jazz long-term.
Only six teams with double-digit seeds have made the March Madness Final Four since the men’s field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.