With the trade deadline less than a month away, rumors are heating up surrounding one of the biggest names in this year’s market: Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Murray has been linked to teams like the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. According to Matt Moore of Action Network, a league executive name-dropped another surprising team that could make a trade for Dejounte Murray: the Cavs.
“Finally — and I want to stress this is speculative (but interesting),” Moore wrote. “One league executive suggested keeping an eye on the Cavaliers in Murray talks if the Cavs decide they have to move Donovan Mitchell before the final year of his contract. (Mitchell has a player option for 2025-26, and there has been nothing but a barrage of reporting that Mitchell will not re-sign and prefers a New York team as his next home.)”
Looking at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ situation with Donovan Mitchell, it does make sense for the Cavs to prepare a plan B in case their franchise star winds up leaving. There have been rumors of Mitchell opting out of his player option for the 2025-26 season.
Mitchell hasn’t said anything about wanting to bolt Cleveland, but the fact that he has yet to sign an extension puts the Cavs in testy waters ahead of his impending decision. Meanwhile, Murray just signed a fresh four-year $120 million deal, that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Cleveland could avoid this situation within the next month by jumping the gun and acquiring Dejounte Murray to pair with Darius Garland in the backcourt. The Cavs could now then tap on the Knicks for a three-team trade involving the Hawks and send Donovan Mitchell to New York, his desired destination.
Nonetheless, as Moore “stressed,” this is all just speculation.