Atlanta Hawks Trade Dejounte Murray to New Orleans Pelicans for Players and Picks
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, and two first-round picks, as reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
In the deal, Atlanta will acquire the Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 first-round pick and the less favorable of the Pelicans' and Milwaukee Bucks' first-round picks in 2027.
Murray, who joined the Hawks from the San Antonio Spurs, where he was an All-Star in 2022, spent the last two seasons in Atlanta alongside point guard Trae Young. During this period, the team failed to achieve a record above .500.
The Pelicans, who played last season without a true point guard, will benefit from Murray's playmaking abilities. Murray averaged 6.4 assists per game, surpassing anyone on the Pelicans' roster. Additionally, the 27-year-old posted averages of 22.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season.
For the Hawks, this trade signifies a step towards a rebuild, following a three-year stretch without winning a playoff series.
Nance, who will be on an expiring $11-million deal next season, averaged 5.7 points per game last year, his lowest since his rookie season. Daniels, 21, has received commendation for his defensive skills over his two NBA seasons, though he has struggled with three-point shooting, making just 31.2% of his attempts.