The prediction around the NBA was that Hawks point guard DeJaunt Murray would be a free agent a year from now, allowing him to chase a huge payday and potentially leave Atlanta if he so desired. However, the new CBA and more generous contract extension rules have clearly changed this dynamic.
Murray and the Falcons agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension, the most Atlanta could offer, a story first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Keeping Murray is a win for the Hawks, because it keeps their backcourt of Murray and Trae Young together and because they’ve diverged so far to San Antonio to land on Murray. If he had walked in as a free agent it would have been a huge loss. For Murray, he gets a still very large contract guarantee and is given a player option at the end as a reward for taking a little less than he might have made on the open market a year from now.
Murray averaged 20.5 points and 6.1 assists last season, shooting 34.4% from 3. As much as he helps out on offense, the Falcons need his defense more — he can deflect shots and jump lanes off the ball — especially alongside Young. However, Murray struggled some in this role last season for Nate McMillan.
Everything will be different in Atlanta this season with Quin Snyder getting a full training camp and the chance to apply his technique on both ends of the field. Morey, who emerged in the NBA in the Popovich/Spurs system, should seamlessly blend with Snyder’s team-oriented style.