The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason plans took a hit when they failed to secure some of their top veteran targets. Among them, Dejounte Murray—an explosive shooting guard whose exit from the Atlanta Hawks sparked a bidding war—was at the center of attention. Yet, despite their efforts, the Lakers lost out to the New Orleans Pelicans in the race to acquire him. But why? It appears that D’Angelo Russell blocked the move, becoming the unexpected roadblock that derailed this high-profile deal, according to a recent insider revelation.
Insider’s Scoop: How D’Angelo Russell Blocked the Lakers’ Big Move
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a singular issue proved insurmountable for the Lakers. “The Hawks went down this road last year with the Lakers,” Windhorst revealed. “There was a time where there was a lot of momentum, at least on the Lakers’ side, where they thought they had a great chance to get Dejounte Murray.” But when the chips were down, the potential deal fell apart, and D’Angelo Russell found himself at the center of the drama.
Reports suggest that the Lakers’ trade package, which was believed to include Russell, hit a wall when Atlanta backed out. Rumors swirled about a possible third team getting involved, but nothing materialized. It seemed the Hawks weren’t interested in what the Lakers were offering—and who could blame them?
Murray, who had a stellar season with an average of 22.5 points on 45.9% shooting, along with 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, was worth more than the Lakers were willing or able to give. In contrast, the Pelicans came to the table with a tempting mix of Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, Larry Nance, E.J. Liddell, and two coveted first-round picks. New Orleans saw Murray as a player worth pushing all their chips to the center for, while Los Angeles simply didn’t have the same draft assets or depth to compete.
D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers’ proposed trade chip, just didn’t cut it. With his 18 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game, Russell’s stats paled in comparison to Murray’s, leaving the Lakers at a distinct disadvantage.
While some NBA insiders viewed the trade as reasonable, a panel of 18 NBA coaches, scouts, and executives reportedly dubbed it one of the “worst and most unexpected offseason moves” according to an ESPN survey. Could the Lakers have swung for the fences more aggressively, or were they simply outmaneuvered by a savvier opponent?
In the end, it seems Los Angeles was left wondering what might have been, while the Pelicans cashed in on a golden opportunity. But as the proverb goes, “He who hesitates is lost,” and for the Lakers, hesitation might have been their greatest mistake.
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