Hawks To Benefit From Potential ‘Gold mine’ Thanks To Lakers

The impact of the Atlanta Hawks’ trade involving Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans will be clearer at the end of the season. Murray has expressed satisfaction with the move, likely due to the challenges of his two-year stint with the Hawks. However, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz suggests that the Hawks could ultimately benefit the most from this trade.

Swartz highlights that the Hawks received two first-round picks, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and E.J. Liddell (who was later traded to the Phoenix Suns for David Roddy) in exchange for Murray. This deal not only removed significant future salary but also improved the team’s overall prospects.

A key aspect of the trade is the 2025 first-round pick from New Orleans, which originally came from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the Anthony Davis trade. The decision by the Pelicans to defer this pick until 2025 could be pivotal. Without this deferred pick, the Pelicans would have had to offer their own future first-round picks from the Bucks, which are likely to be late lottery picks given the Bucks’ strong performance with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Swartz points out that the Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick is protected for the top four selections and will be swapped with the Brooklyn Nets multiple times. The Pelicans also have swap rights in 2026 and own the Bucks’ 2027 first-round pick. However, with Zion Williamson and Murray leading the team, there’s a chance the Pelicans’ picks could be less favorable than the Lakers’ pick.Swartz also notes that Lakers stars Anthony Davis (31) and LeBron James (turning 40 in December) were unusually healthy in the 2023-24 season. If their health declines, the Hawks could benefit greatly from the pick. The trade also includes another first-round pick in 2027, along with the potential of 21-year-old Dyson Daniels and the versatility of Larry Nance Jr. This could make the trade a significant win for the Hawks.

Looking at past drafts, the Lakers’ picks since 2019 have been No. 8, No. 22, and No. 28, with the No. 8 pick used by the Pelicans to select Daniels. This suggests the Hawks acquired two valuable first-round picks from the Lakers. Prior to this period, the Lakers had several high draft picks, including Lonzo Ball (No. 2 in 2017), Brandon Ingram (No. 2 in 2016), and D’Angelo Russell (No. 2 in 2015), providing a more optimistic outlook for the Hawks regarding the incoming picks.