This name may be a bit surprising considering the growing sentiment on Heat Twitter (is it still called Heat Twitter? Heat X?) pushing for the team to go after Hawks point guard Trae Young.
While Young is the more flashy and generally exciting player, Murray is by far the better fit in Miami of the two. His ability to score, distribute, and defend check all the boxes the Heat require.
The Why:
There was reporting around the trade deadline that Atlanta was listening to offers for Murray, though it remains to be seen if they are still open to letting him go. It has become clear over the last two seasons that the fit between him and Young is less than ideal. Without a doubt, the team dreamt that the pairing would mesh as well together as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have in Dallas, but that has clearly not been the case, finishing no higher than the 7 seed in each of the last two seasons.
There have been more recent rumors that the team may be looking to move on from Young this summer, but those reports came before the Hawks beat the odds to win the top pick in the draft lottery; it's not clear if that stroke of luck has changed Atlanta’s course of action this offseason.
The How:
There is no easy way to trade for Murray without putting forward the best package possible. He has three guaranteed years left on his current contract, meaning he has little say in what team he plays for next season, even if the Hawks were open to trade offers. Herro’s contract alone should satisfy the financial requirements of the trade, and he could end up being a great fit in Atlanta as he plays a similar style of fearless offense as Young.
Simplest potential trade package:
Tyler Herro, 2024 first round pick, 2029 first round pick
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