Paras Griffin/Getty ImagesA trade for Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray “doesn’t make sense” for the Golden State Warriors based on the sources canvassed by Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
Fischer cited the performance of Chris Paul as one reason why a move for Murray might not be what Golden State needs. Paul, who’s still nursing a fracture in his left hand, has averaged 15.7 points and 12.6 assists per 100 possessions while backing up Stephen Curry, according to Basketball Reference.
The Athletic’s Anthony Slater previously threw a wet blanket on the idea of Murray landing in the Bay Area. He reported on Jan. 30 that Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. had recently met with Hawks GM Landry but that the team’s interest in the veteran guard “is tepid at best.”
The 27-year-old is only three nights removed from posting 19 points, five rebounds and seven assists in a 141-134 overtime victory over Golden State
In a vacuum, Murray might be a really nice addition. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 37.0 percent from beyond the arc. And while his defense has slipped a bit, even the current version of the 6’5″ guard might help to the Warriors when they have the second-worst defensive rating in the fourth quarter (121.5), per NBA.com.
But acquiring Murray would probably represent the Warriors’ last big swing to win one more title with Stephen Curry on the roster. If Dunleavy is going to take that step, then acquiring another ball-dominant guard probably isn’t going to put them over the top. Getting a wing upgrade on Andrew Wiggins or fortifying the frontcourt would yield bigger dividends in that respect.
Then there’s the simple fact Dunleavy might be fighting a losing battle with whatever he does.
Standing pat probably dooms Golden State to an early playoff exit or missing out altogether, while executing a blockbuster trade may not be enough to make a meaningful. Do you mortgage what’s left of the future in pursuit of what’s likely to be a forgettable postseason run?
Based on both Fischer and Slater’s reporting, it looks like Dunleavy isn’t prepared to go all in when it comes to Murray at least.
Source : Bleacher Report