The New Orleans Pelicans have made the primary post-NBA Draft splash.
The Pelicans acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, ESPN reported Friday.
Including Murray to the roster improves New Orleans’ backcourt and can seemingly enhance their total shot creation. The Pelicans despatched a pair of first-round picks, Larry Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels, to Atlanta in change for Murray.
Murray is coming off a robust season. He appeared in 78 video games and averaged a career-best 22.5 factors.
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Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks towards the Boston Celtics throughout Recreation 3 of the primary spherical of the 2023 NBA Playoffs April 21, 2023, at State Farm Area in Atlanta. (Adam Hagy/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
He additionally was a catalyst for the Hawks throughout three-time All-Star Trae Younger’s prolonged absence on account of damage within the second half of the season.
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Murray’s taking pictures from past the arc additionally improved final season. The 27-year-old knocked down a career-best 201 3-pointers throughout the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Larry Nance Jr. throughout a recreation towards the Los Angeles Lakers throughout the 2024 SoFi Play-In Event April 16, 2024, on the Smoothie King Heart in New Orleans. (Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
The Hawks gave up three first-round draft picks to land Murray in 2022. The franchise hoped including Murray to Atlanta’s backcourt alongside Younger would create one of many extra formidable duos within the NBA.
However the experiment was largely unsuccessful, and Murray will now see how he fares in New Orleans with Brandon Ingram.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) and guard Trae Younger (11) have fun earlier than a win towards the Boston Celtics throughout the second half of Recreation 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff sequence April 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photograph/Brynn Anderson)
Murray signed a four-year, $114 million extension with the Hawks final yr, however Atlanta won’t must pay any of that wage because the deal has but to kick in. Murray is scheduled to earn an estimated $25.3 million for the 2024-25 season.
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New Orleans hopes Murray may also help reverse the crew’s fortunes when they’re trailing late in video games. Final season, the Pelicans misplaced each recreation once they entered the fourth quarter going through a deficit. Murray made three go-ahead baskets within the ultimate 5 seconds of the fourth quarter or in time beyond regulation final seasson.
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