Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray is a good start, but more reshuffling is needed

The Atlanta Hawks may have made the move of the offseason by acquiring Dejounte Murray, but more reshuffling is needed to make noise in the Eastern Conference next season. 

After taking a huge step back as a franchise by losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs to the Miami Heat this past season, at least some reshuffling, if not an entire retooling, was in order for the Atlanta Hawks heading into this offseason.

For the first few weeks of the offseason, the Hawks were at the center of speculation and rumors. However, nothing had come to fruition just yet. Until the eve of the start of free agency when it was reported that Atlanta had acquired Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks, and a future pick swap.

The best part of the deal is the fact that the Hawks still hold control of John Collins, who they could still trade when free agency opens. He’s rumored to want out of Atlanta and remains one of the biggest names that could be moved this offseason.

Murray joins the Hawks after they selected A.J. Griffin and Tyrese Martin in the NBA Draft last week. Now, they will shift their focus toward the free agency market where they will continue to try and surround Trae Young, Murray, and Clint Capela with a needle-moving supporting cast – one that already includes Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Onyeka Okongwu.

While those are some intriguing names, you’d have to think that there is still some work to be done for Atlanta’s front office.

If the Hawks want to make noise in the Eastern Conference, I’m not sure if a trio of Murray, Young, and Capela is what it will take. Especially considering when the top 3 contenders are headlined by the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Joel Embiid, and James Harden.

Oh and that’s without even mentioning the possible threat that a Brooklyn Nets team led by Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving can have.

Nevertheless, the Hawks needed to go through some reshuffling this offseason. That much was true. And acquiring Murray can be viewed as a first step. If so, what a first step it was.