The Atlanta Hawks were closely monitoring the Kevin Durant situation with the Brooklyn Nets before they executed a trade for Dejounte Murray, sources tell Chris Kirschner and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Like many other teams around the NBA, the Hawks were seriously preparing for the possibility that Durant might ask for a trade if Kyrie Irving would have left in free agency. When Irving decided to opt in for his $36.5 million contract for 22-23, the Hawks were able to move forward with the Murray trade.
With the Hawks sending out multiple future first round picks to the Spurs for Murray, their ability to make a trade for the star like Durant now becomes a practical impossibility.