Trae Young On Pairing With Dejounte Murray: Sucks That It Didn't Work

[RealGM Wiretap]

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was a recent guest on Podcast P with Paul George. Young touched on a lot of subjects, including the failed partnership with Dejounte Murray in the Hawks backcourt.

"It’s tough cause we wanted to win," Young said. "We’re not the first duo that couldn’t work and we’re not going to be the last."

Young explained that Murray is a lifelong friend, but things just didn't work out on the court. The Hawks guard said that both he and Murray realized that they didn't win enough to keep Atlanta from making a move.

The Hawks traded Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package of players that included Dyson Daniels and Larry Nance Jr. Both Daniels and Nance are expected to fill rotation roles for Atlanta this season.

Via Podcast P with Paul George

[WiggOuts]

I feel like Murray is the first of many players that will have a hard time working alongside Tre, his style of play is too flawed

[MitchB3]

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

[Roy T]

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

[WiggOuts]

I have faith it can work but I would've thought Murray would've been almost a near perfect fit. The fact that it didn't work out is kind of discouraging

[EnriCela13]

I have faith it can work but I would've thought Murray would've been almost a near perfect fit. The fact that it didn't work out is kind of discouraging

Young is a ball dominant player and so is Murray so idk why you think it’s a near perfect fit. Maybe you’re saying that because Murray is a good defender and I agree you do need to pair Young with a good defender but not a ball dominant one. A player like Klay Thompson pre injury would be a perfect fit. From guys active rn I think Mikal bridges, herb jones, maybe even an Andrew Wiggins (soft I know) would be better fits. Guys who don’t need the rock but can help space the floor and make up for his defensive deficiencies.

[HotelVitale]

I have faith it can work but I would've thought Murray would've been almost a near perfect fit. The fact that it didn't work out is kind of discouraging

Young is a ball dominant player and so is Murray so idk why you think it’s a near perfect fit. Maybe you’re saying that because Murray is a good defender and I agree you do need to pair Young with a good defender but not a ball dominant one. A player like Klay Thompson pre injury would be a perfect fit. From guys active rn I think Mikal bridges, herb jones, maybe even an Andrew Wiggins (soft I know) would be better fits. Guys who don’t need the rock but can help space the floor and make up for his defensive deficiencies.

Yeah I don't think many people were super optimistic about that pairing, it definitely wasn't ideal for either guy. Both most effective as volume ball-handlers, Murray isn't particularly great at anything else and is definitely not known as an off-ball guy.

Also seems like Murray took a big slide as a defender as he increased his offensive role. Think he was slotted as a pretty average defender by the end of last year.

[Pickled Prunes]

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

Melo was a stud with the exact same problem. He was lackadaisical on D. The difference is that Melo got much more love while he was making all-star teams. People really weren't mass hating on him until OKC. When Melo was entering his 7th season (as Trae is now) Melo was still in DEN and was one of the faces of the NBA. Most NBA haters don't come out in full force until post-prime ala Melo, Nash, AI, Westbrook, Garnett, etc.

[3ptLion]

He doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Melo.

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

[WiggOuts]

I have faith it can work but I would've thought Murray would've been almost a near perfect fit. The fact that it didn't work out is kind of discouraging

Young is a ball dominant player and so is Murray so idk why you think it’s a near perfect fit. Maybe you’re saying that because Murray is a good defender and I agree you do need to pair Young with a good defender but not a ball dominant one. A player like Klay Thompson pre injury would be a perfect fit. From guys active rn I think Mikal bridges, herb jones, maybe even an Andrew Wiggins (soft I know) would be better fits. Guys who don’t need the rock but can help space the floor and make up for his defensive deficiencies.

I thought he would've sacrificed to make it work, he could've focused more on d and Tre couldve worked on the off-ball shooting. Murray was a very good defender for SA. Its looks like both of them wanted more for themselves and weren't willing to bend. Probably why he got traded after 1 season under Snyder

[shrink]

I’m no Trae fan, but I think he’s right here. GM’s are asked to predict the future, and often their resources only give them a few pathways forward. Just like making a draft pick, there are no guarantees, and they need to take the course of action that has the best chance of success. Trae and Murray might have worked, it didn’t, and eventually the Hawks moved on. That’s the NBA.

[MitchB3]

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

Okay. Not going to entertain that comparison.

[Roy T]

So Trae doesn't realize he's the problem?

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

Okay. Not going to entertain that comparison.

Dude gives you 25 and 10 every night and all you armchair GMs treat ihm like ****.

[MitchB3]

What problem? He just needs much different teammates. Dude is a stud but gets the Melo treatment, thats absurd.

Okay. Not going to entertain that comparison.

Dude gives you 25 and 10 every night and all you armchair GMs treat ihm like ****.

Okay? 25 and 10, and 1st round exist. With the exception of 2021, Trae has been feeling himself.

[ReddOktober]

Okay. Not going to entertain that comparison.

Dude gives you 25 and 10 every night and all you armchair GMs treat ihm like ****.

Okay? 25 and 10, and 1st round exist. With the exception of 2021, Trae has been feeling himself.

Same thing Jordan did as a young player... gave u stats with 1st round exits

[MitchB3]

Dude gives you 25 and 10 every night and all you armchair GMs treat ihm like ****.

Okay? 25 and 10, and 1st round exist. With the exception of 2021, Trae has been feeling himself.

Same thing Jordan did as a young player... gave u stats with 1st round exits

Alright, let's stop this nonsense now. Trae Young is a solid player, however, he's not going to lead you anywhere. IF he doesn't fix his game, mindset, and image, he's going to be out of the league sooner rather than later. Doesn't matter if you're putting up 25 and 10, or whatever. Since the Hawks, drafted him he's got two solid coaches fired; he also got John Collins traded, and now DJ Murray got traded. At some point it's not everyone else's fault, it your own. He's already on the Harden path.

[Roy T]

He's already on the Harden path.

So you think he will win MVP soon?

[MitchB3]

He's already on the Harden path.

So you think he will win MVP soon?

If that's your take away from what I previously stated, then may the Lord bless you.