The Pelicans have made a move to get a guard.
Following Wednesday and Thursday’s NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a trade with the Atlanta Hawks to acquire Dejounte Murray. New Orleans will send guard Dyson Daniels, forward Larry Nance Jr., and two future first-round picks. The picks come in 2025 via the Lakers and the other will be the least favorable between the Bucks and Pelicans pick in 2027.
The trade was announced by ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski via X.
Murray was the 29th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and stands at 6’5″ and weighs 180 lbs. The 27-year-old began the first five years of his career with the San Antonio Spurs where he elevated his play every season. By his final year in San Antonio, Murray averaged 21.1 points on 46.2% shooting while grabbing eight rebounds and dissing 9.2 assists while also getting a couple of steals per game.
That following offseason Murray was traded to Atlanta to be a part of a backcourt tandem with Trae Young. The experiment only lasted two seasons as Murray’s scoring stats remained in the same range as before but his assist and rebound averages fell. The team’s success came with mixed results as the Hawks made it to the playoffs in 2023 and fell in six games to the Boston Celtics but took a step back in 2024 and failed to make it to the dance with a 36-46 record.
In his final season with Atlanta, Murray averaged 22.5 points on 45.9% shooting and was 36.3% from three-point range. The former Washington Husky was also a 79.4% free throw shooter then secured 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals in 35.7 minutes played per game last year.
Daniels is a developing young player who spent his first two seasons with New Orleans after being taken eighth overall in the 2022 draft. The 21-year-old started to carve out a role for himself and showed signs of developing his jump shot but is known for his defensive ability.
Nance on the other hand is headed to his fifth team at the age of 31. Only once averaged 10 points per game and was always considered a backup role player after playing his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nance spent the previous three seasons with the Pels, appearing in 61 games and averaging 5.7 points and five rebounds in 19.9 minutes per contest.
At the moment, the New Orleans starting lineup is projected to be as follows:
PG: Dejounte Murray
SG: CJ McCollum
SF: Herb Jones
PF: Brandon Ingram
C: Zion Williamson