CELTICS VS. HAWKS Ahead of Thursday’s deadline, Dejouunte Murray is questionable amid trade rumors on Wednesday’s NBA injury report, odds, and pros.

In Boston on Wednesday, the Hawks have guard Dejounte Murray listed as questionable.

Dejounte Murray, a guard, is listed as questionable for the Atlanta Hawks’ game at Boston on Wednesday night. Even though Murray is a previous All-Star and a very excellent player, most days his situation wouldn’t be very noteworthy, but today is the final practice session before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. Perhaps the most likely “big-name” player to move is Murray. If Murray is moved, one book likes the Los Angeles Lakers (-150) to be his next stop.

The Hawks acquired Murray from San Antonio in June 2022 in exchange for three future first-round selections and a 2026 first-round pick swap. The guard had just finished his first season as an All-Star. Murray was one of just three players, along with superstars Paul George and Jimmy Butler, to average at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals a game in the 2022–23 season while playing for Atlanta. Murray also averaged 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Murray became just the second Hawks player to reach those records in a single season, along with Lenny Wilkens (1967–68).

Why would the Hawks want to sell Murray now that they signed him to a four-year, $114 million agreement last summer, showing that they were duly impressed and did not want to lose him to free agency? A backcourt of Trae Young and Murray is just not functioning, and Young isn’t leaving. After winning a play-in tournament game, Atlanta did make it to the first round of the 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs; however, Boston eliminated them in six games.

Given that they are six games short of the No. 6 seed and now stand at 22-28 and 10th in the East, the best the Hawks can probably hope for is another position in the play-in tournament. In essence, the front staff hopes to quickly rebuild by acquiring a quality player and draft picks in exchange for Murray, who is averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds this year. Being the only player in the NBA to have at least 100 steals in each of the previous four seasons, he is still a very good defender (38 shy this year).

Due to the possibility of a close deal, we might see a few players in the NBA on Wednesday who are labeled as questionable or out. According to reports, the Lakers are taking their time with Murray because D’Angelo Russell, their own guard, has been playing much better lately. According to Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, the Lakers might postpone making a big trade until this summer in order to pursue Donovan Mitchell of Cleveland.

The +250 second-best pick to be Murray’s next team is Utah. Although the Pistons also returned Kevin Knox as contract filler, the Jazz did make a trade on Wednesday to possibly clear a spot on the roster. Reserve forward Simone Fontecchio was sent to Detroit in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick. Knox could just be released. The only two teams that are known to have given Atlanta firm offers for Murray are the Lakers and the Jazz.