2 goals Dejounte Murray must meet to reclaim All-Star status

Dejounte Murray's acquisition by the New Orleans Pelicans wasn't a universally praised move like most All-Star acquisitions. That's because his skillset as a ball-dominant scorer who does his best work as a slasher and pull-up shooter is one that the team wasn't exactly lacking. Next season, Head Coach Willie Green will have his work cut out for him to find a way to maximize the overlapping games of DJM, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson.

But, it's never a bad idea to amass as much talent as possible and let the rest sort itself out. In terms of pure ability, Murray is objectively an upgrade over the spare parts that the Pelicans sent out in order to get him. Whether this deal will better the team overall remains to be seen.

Murray's trade value tanked significantly in the one season he spent with the Atlanta Hawks, between when the Hawks first traded for him from the San Antonio Spurs and when they shipped him off to the Big Easy. In ATL, he struggled to gel with fellow All-Star guard Trae Young in a way that was conducive to the success of the team. While Murray still got his numbers, he wasn't able to prove himself a positive team player as the Hawks arguably were worse after acquiring him.

In this upcoming season, he'll be looking to prove that he can be a part of something bigger by helping lead New Orleans's title pursuit. He won't likely be an official All-Star due to the Pelicans' roster construction and the sheer depth of guard talent in the Western Conference, but he can regain his All-Star prestige by hitting these goals next season.

Dejounte Murray's goals to become an elite two-way presence for the Pelicans

1. Average over six assists per game

Dejounte Murray entered the league as a combo guard and returned to that role last season playing next to Trae Young in Atlanta. He'll need to do so again next year sharing the backcourt with CJ McCollum who's become the Pelicans' de facto point guard since his arrival. Regardless of who will be the official point guard for New Orleans, they'll both have plenty of on-ball playmaking opportunities.

In his final season with the Spurs, DJM showcased his growth as a floor general by notching over nine assists per game. He won't be able to replicate that production with the Pelicans' litany of ballhandlers, but they'll be hoping he can shoulder a bulk of the playmaking load, as they don't have any pure point guards on the roster. If he can average over six assists a game with the Pelicans, it'll prove that he had a great season as a passer and fit in seamlessly on a loaded team.

2. Become a positive statistical defender once again

When the Atlanta Hawks traded for Murray, they were likely hoping that he could improve their defense by locking down the opposing team's best guard. That didn't work out for them, as he noticeably regressed as a defender. New Orleans is surely hoping that his defensive woes were a result of circumstance and the lack of support around him instead of an individual problem.

Last year, the Hawks were significantly better on defense with him off the court than on. When DJM was playing, Atlanta gave up 121.5 points per 100 possessions. When he was on the bench, that number dropped to 115.7. The Pelicans will need Murray to not only be an apt defender but shine as a stopper, as they're defensive personnel has taken a huge hit since last season.