The New Orleans Pelicans gave up Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two first-round draft picks to get Dejounte Murray, and things are not looking good. Daniels broke out in Atlanta and led the NBA in steals. To make matters worse, Murray suffered a devastating Achilles injury in a lost season for the Pelicans, and New Orleans owes the Hawks the 22nd overall pick in June’s draft.
The Pels fell seventh in the draft lottery. They would love to move into the top three, but the price is unrealistic. Zion Williamson is staying in New Orleans, but the Murray trade and his injury will hang over the franchise for years to come.
The All-Star guard may miss the entire 2025-26 season. New Orleans won just nine of the 31 games he played in before the injury, which only makes this trade look worse for the Pelicans.
Pelicans' regret in Dejounte Murray trade will only get worse
Murray was far from an All-Star with the Pelicans. His 17.5 points per game were his lowest since 2021. He shot just 39.3 percent from the field and 29.9 percent on his 3-point tries. Murray had an abysmal 0.009 win shares per 48 minutes, and nothing looked good for the 28-year-old.
New Orleans fans cannot expect him to be better coming off an Achilles tear. Kevin Durant has returned to an elite level, but this is a devastating injury. Murray is under contract through 2028, and the Pels may be stuck with his $30-plus million per year on their books for years.
New Orleans could have used the 22nd overall pick in a package to upgrade their roster. Instead, they are stuck with Murray’s massive contract and roster questions everywhere. The Pelicans are building around Zion, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones. How do they get back to the playoffs and make a deep run? Williamson’s unique game makes it more difficult. The Pels' former front office thought Murray would be the answer, but a serious injury derailed that.
Things will only get worse. New Orleans won 21 games last season. Injuries were to blame, but there was plenty of subpar play too. The Pelicans have made the playoffs just twice since 2018. This roster needs to be better, and Murray’s contract makes upgrading more difficult. Add in letting two first-round picks out the door, and that pain only grows.
The New Orleans Pelicans face a crucial offseason. It appears Zion will stay, but there is no easy way to get back to the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. Joe Dumars and the new front office must add talent. Dejounte Murray complicates matters, but no excuses. The Pels must make it happen or should head towards a rebuild. Changes are coming in the Big Easy, so stay tuned.