NBA teams are showing a higher interest in Dejounte Murray over Trae Young in potential trades with the Atlanta Hawks.
Not long ago, Trae Young was considered one of the most promising young talents in the NBA. Selected as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young quickly made a name for himself, earning two All-Star appearances within his first four seasons and averaging an impressive 29.6 points per game in the 19/20 season.
However, the Hawks’ recent struggles have tarnished Young’s once-sterling reputation. As Atlanta contemplates breaking up their star backcourt duo of Young and Dejounte Murray, reports suggest that teams now prefer Murray over Young in trade discussions.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that several NBA executives value Murray more highly than Young, primarily due to the differences in their contracts:
“Several executives who spoke with HoopsHype say they value Murray over Young due to his contract length and average annual salary.”
Contract Considerations Impact Trade Value
Young’s contract could be a significant deterrent for teams interested in acquiring him. The 25-year-old guard is currently under a five-year, $215.16 million contract signed in August 2021, with substantial cap hits in the coming years:
- 2024-25: $43.03 million
- 2025-26: $45.99 million
- 2026-27: $48.97 million
In contrast, Murray is under a more team-friendly four-year, $114.07 million contract, with annual cap hits under $30 million until his player option in the 27/28 season.