Hawks wanted Immanuel Quickley, first-round pick for Dejounte Murray trade

Dejounte Murray is a player who definitely has the Lakers’ interest, and the Hawks certainly would ask for Austin Reaves initially in those talks. The Lakers, though, have shown no interest in trading Reaves despite some defensive regression this season, and even if they did flip him for Murray, there’s real skepticism that it would “move the needle” — a phrase you hear a lot when you talk to people about the Lakers and their deadline plans. If the cost to get Murray is a first-round pick and a win-now young player (the Raptors elected for two of those players in lieu of a first-round pick in their trade of OG Anunoby to the Knicks), the Lakers can’t really meet it without Reaves. Sources say there have been no discussions about trading Austin Reaves. -via Los Angeles Times / January 13, 2024

Evan Sidery: The Lakers would “almost assuredly” have to include their 2029 first-round pick in a trade for Dejounte Murray, per @wojespn. Woj adds it’s “very, very likely” Murray is moved by the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/gGcEnmcvuM -via Twitter @esidery / January 12, 2024

NBA Central: The Miami Heat are a ‘legitimate’ landing spot for Dejounte Murray, per @JakeLFischer (Via apple.co/48OTUsZ) pic.twitter.com/siTy6QTJOx -via Twitter @TheNBACentral / January 12, 2024

For a slender guard who has always relied on skill, Curry has always been an inspiration. “2015, That was a crazy year,” Quickley said after a Raptors shoot-around earlier on their six-game west-coast road trip. “To see someone 6-foot-3, 190 pounds winning an MVP, it makes you ask yourself: ‘Why can’t I be great? If you have the work ethic, why can’t you go out and accomplish great things? It’s always great to see great players do well, especially players who have the same kind of body type as you, it’s just cool to see that.” -via SportsNet / January 12, 2024

For Curry, it’s a matter of game recognizing game. “It speaks to how long I’ve been around, that you’re playing against guys that watched you through the years and taking bits and pieces of what I do and adding it to their game,” Curry told me after the Raptors downed the Warriors on Sunday night, a game in which Quickley shot just 1-of-4 from three but contributed 10 assists without a turnover in the Raptors blowout win. “He’s got so much potential in this league and the change of the scenery will be fresh for him,” Curry continued. “He’s got a nice responsibility as a starting point guard now. “I talked to him once or twice the past couple of years, gave him some words of wisdom and he’s been proactive about reaching out, and that’s been dope.” -via SportsNet / January 12, 2024

Michael Scotto: What’s interesting, I think with the OG talks, was that wasn’t necessarily the package the Knicks thought would get it done. They had different conversations from what I was told, certainly with RJ Barrett being the focal point as a Canadian guy going to Toronto. The thought originally was it was going to be multiple draft picks (with Barrett). Instead, Toronto valued (Immanuel) Quickley more than those picks. That’s how Quickley essentially ended up being in it, and I would say the equivalent of two first-round picks in the eyes of Toronto. You get him under restricted free agency control. They think he’s a starting-caliber guard for that team, and he’s thrived since. -via HoopsHype / January 12, 2024