The New Orleans Pelicans had their first big success since the NBA Draft.
ESPN reported Friday that the Pelicans have acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.
Adding Murray to the team would strengthen New Orleans’ backcourt and improve their overall shooting opportunities, and the Pelicans sent two first-round draft picks, Larry Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels, to Atlanta in exchange for Murray.
Murray is coming off a strong season, playing in 78 games and averaging a career-best 22.5 points.
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Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks plays against the Boston Celtics during Game 3 of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena on April 21, 2023 in Atlanta. (Adam Hagee/NBAE via Getty Images)
He was also the driving force for the Hawks during the loss of three-time All-Star Trae Young with an extended injury late in the season.
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Murray’s 3-point shooting also improved last season. The 27-year-old Murray is on track to make a career-high 201 3-pointers during the 2023-24 season.
Larry Nance Jr. during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024 SoFi Play-In Tournament at the Smoothie King Center on April 16, 2024 in New Orleans. (Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
The Hawks gave up three first-round draft picks to acquire Murray in 2022. The team hoped adding Murray to Atlanta’s backcourt alongside Young would create one of the most formidable duos in the NBA.
But the experiment was largely a failure, and Murray will now thrive alongside Brandon Ingram in New Orleans.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) and guard Trae Young (11) celebrate before the Hawks’ win against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game 3 of their first round NBA basketball playoff series on April 21, 2023 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension with the Hawks last year, but Atlanta doesn’t have to pay any of his salary because the deal hasn’t yet taken effect. Murray is set to make an estimated $25.3 million in the 2024-25 season.
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New Orleans is hoping Murray can help turn the team’s fortunes around when they’re trailing late in games. Last season, the Pelicans lost every game they played going into the fourth quarter behind. Murray scored three comeback goals in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or in overtime last season.
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