Report: Pelicans ‘Longtime Admirers’ Of Hawks’ Dejounte Murray

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the New Orleans Pelicans are “longtime admirers” of Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray.

The Hawks, who have the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, could trade Murray or Trae Young this offseason. 

“Clarity remains elusive about Atlanta’s trade preferences — whether the Hawks indeed intend to ship out Trae Young or Dejounte Murray as well as what their intentions are with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night — but the Pelicans are known to be longtime admirers of Murray,” Stein wrote. 

One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 45.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 79.4% from the free-throw line.

The Hawks signed Murray to a four-year, $114 million extension in July 2023. Murray will make $24.8 million next season. 

Murray has career averages of 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the San Antonio Spurs and Hawks.

The Pelicans could trade Brandon Ingram this week, per Stein. Perhaps New Orleans and Atlanta could make a trade involving Ingram and Murray. 

“A prominent former All-Star considered more likely to be dealt this week with the draft and free agency converging: New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram,” Stein wrote. “It was roughly six weeks ago, back on May 12, that I wrote about a growing belief leaguewide that New Orleans would seriously explore the trade market for Ingram before next season. Anticipation that Ingram will soon be on the move has only swelled some six weeks later.”

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans in 2023-24 while shooting 49.2% from the floor, 35.5% from 3 and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

Ingram, who has one year left on his contract, has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers and Pelicans. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.