The tension between Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans escalated Friday after his representatives at Klutch Sports asked the team to trade him. The Pelicans said they would consider offers that serve the organization’s interests.
Murray, 30, was ruled out of Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a left ankle sprain. Coach Jamahl Mosley said he had been told Murray was not at the arena.
New Orleans acquired Murray from the Atlanta Hawks in June 2024, giving up two first-round picks, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and E.J. Liddell. At the time, then-executive David Griffin saw him as a strong defender and playmaker who could ease the ball-handling burden on Zion Williamson. Murray, however, never recaptured the form that earned him All-Star recognition in 2022.
Injuries disrupted his time with the Pelicans. He broke his hand in the 2024 season opener and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in January 2025. Across three seasons in New Orleans, he has appeared in just 54 games, averaging 16.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds. The team has a 1-8 record with him in the lineup.
Murray is reportedly earning $32.8 million this season and has a player option worth $30.8 million for next season. He recently voiced frustration with the team in a series of social media posts.
After a social media reporter noted that the Pelicans were 3-0 without him, Murray replied that someone may have prompted the comment and added, “THE ‘SABOTAGE’ IS REAL!” He deleted the post shortly afterward.
The trade request came as New Orleans was riding a four-game losing streak. Mosley said his attention remained on the players available and on getting the team back to its expected level of play.
“How well we play is very important to me, and making sure that we keep up that standard,” Mosley said. He added that the team’s recent performances did not reflect the organization or the style of basketball it had shown earlier in training camp and the preseason.
Mosley said the Pelicans had done many good things in their first few games, even though the results did not go their way. His focus, he said, was helping the team return to the approach that best represents the organization.
