The New Orleans Pelicans are trading for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.
On Friday, the Pelicans agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks for the 27-year-old.
The Pelicans pursued Murray before the trade deadline in February. They were able to land him Friday by sending out Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell and two first-round picks. The Pelicans owe the Hawks a 2025 first-round pick — one that they originally acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade — along with a 2027 first-round pick.
Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists last season across 78 games. He was part of a Hawks team that finished the regular season with a disappointing 36-46 record.
Murray spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs. He made the All-Star game in 2022, but the Spurs still opted to trade him to the Hawks later that summer. The Hawks tried pairing Trae Young and Murray together, but that experiment is over after two years in which Atlanta never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.
The Pelicans have tried a point-guard-by-committe approach the past two seasons. Murray will take on most of those responsibilities now. Murray averaged 9.2 assists per game in his final season with the Spurs. He will be tasked with creating looks for himself and his teammates.
The Pelicans made the trade with the idea that Murray and CJ McCollum can coexist. Murray is 6-foot-5 and can guard multiple positions. McCollum is best in an off-ball role. McCollum was one of the NBA's best outside shooters last season, as he converted 42.9% of his 3s on 8.8 attempts per game. McCollum is under contract for two more years with New Orleans. He is owed more than $30 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Murray makes $25.3 million in 2024-25; $27.3 million in 2025-26; and $29.3. Murray has a $31.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Murray's reasonable contract was one of the aspects that made him appealing to the Pelicans.
It's unclear what the Murray acquisition means for Brandon Ingram's future in New Orleans. Ingram has one year remaining on his contract. He is eligible for a four-year, $208 million extension this summer.
“Brandon wants to stay here,” Griffin said Wednesday. “He believes in what we are building. That is meaningful to us. That’s meaningful to him. That’s meaningful to his agent. At the same time, there is a financial reality that we all deal with. I think we’re excited about Brandon. We know he’s excited about us. Usually, those things yield good results one way or the other.”
The Pelicans are $2.6 million below the luxury tax line after trading for Murray, according to ESPN. New Orleans is one of two NBA franchises that has never paid the luxury tax.
The Pelicans still need to find a starting center. Jonas Valanciunas is an unrestricted free agent, and it is unlikely he returns to New Orleans next season.
Throughout his career, Murray has been a three-level scorer. He is most comfortable in the midrange, however. He took 40% of his shots from the midrange last year.
Murray led the NBA in steals in 2021-22, which was his final season in San Antonio. Last season, Murray was part of an Atlanta defense that finished 27th in points allowed per 100 possessions.
The Pelicans have been a strong defensive team under coach Willie Green, finishing sixth in defense in each of the past two years.