The New Orleans Pelicans are making a splash for the first time since the NBA Draft.
The Pelicans acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, ESPN reported Friday.
Adding Murray to the lineup could improve New Orleans’ backcourt and potentially improve their overall shot creation. The Pelicans sent a pair of first-round picks, Larry Nance Jr. and Deyson Daniels, to Atlanta for Murray.
Murray is coming off a strong season. He played in 78 games and averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game.
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Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
He was also a catalyst for the Hawks during the extended absence of three-time All-Star Trae Young due to an injury late in the season.
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Murray’s shooting from beyond the arc also improved last season. The 27-year-old made a career-high 201 three-pointers in 2023-24.
Larry Nance Jr. plays against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024 SoFi Play-in Game at Smoothie King Center on April 16, 2024 in New Orleans. (Ryan Murdock Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
The Hawks gave up three first-round picks in 2022 to land Murray.
But the experiment was largely unsuccessful, and Murray will now see how he and Brandon Ingram fare in New Orleans.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) and guard Trae Young (11) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball playoff first-round series on April 21, 2023 in Atlanta. Celebrating before a win over the Boston Celtics. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension with the Hawks last year, but because the deal has not yet taken effect, Atlanta does not have to pay him any salary. season.
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New Orleans is hoping Murray can help turn the team’s fortunes around when they fall behind late in games. Last season, the Pelicans lost every game after trailing entering the fourth quarter. Last season, Murray hit three go-ahead baskets in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
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