The New Orleans Pelicans essentially went all in on pursuing the NBA title when they traded for Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks at the top of the summer. They gave up a hefty package, including two future first-round picks and the eighth-overall selection in 2022 in Dyson Daniels, to add another All-Star talent to a burgeoning roster.
New Orleans may not have been regarded among the top title contenders in the league even after acquiring Murray, but their combination of talent was undeniable. Any optimism surrounding the new roster quickly evaporated however when DJM went down with a fractured left hand after just one game in the Big Easy.
When Murray went down, he left the team in good hands with plenty of top-end talent in Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum ready to shoulder the extra responsibility. He was sidelined for over a month, and, in that time, a lot changed for the Pelicans, including practically the entire core joining him in the infirmary with various injuries. Dejounte Murray finally made his return for New Orleans, but it was alongside a completely different team than he thought he'd be playing with.
Dejounte Murray shakes off rust in his second game of the year for the Pelicans
A hand injury can be one of the most devastating conditions for a basketball player. Proper rehabilitation and healing are important to ensure that the shooting mechanics aren't compromised by the ailment. Even when an athlete is extremely cautious in coming back, it can take a while to rebuild a rhythm after not using one of their hands for so long.
Watching Murray's return against the Toronto Raptors made it abundantly clear that he hadn't played professional basketball in over a month. He came in aggressive, born out of a combination of his self-confidence and necessity with both Zion and Ingram in street clothes. His touch was clearly rusty, though, and he wound up going just 5-17 from the floor and 2-6 from deep for a total of just 14 points.
On the bright side, he looked to be in great shape, pushing the pace and relentlessly getting into the paint with the ball in his hands. With a whole new supporting cast around him, the chemistry and execution was lacking, and he finished with just two assists to three turnovers.
He looked good on the defensive end of the court, moving well on the perimeter and playing with purpose. He tallied two steals and held the Raptors to a 111 offensive rating while he was on the court, which was significantly better than New Orleans's defensive rating of 118 so far on the season.
The shot and the chemistry should come along fine as he continues to gather his sea legs and build connections with his new teammates. Most importantly, he looked healthy, spry, and aggressive. The Pelicans will need him to maintain his mentality and regain his touch if they're to make any noise this year.
Grade: C-