NBA Rumors: The Possible Destination of Dejounte Murray After Requesting a Trade from the Pelicans
New Orleans has started the season horribly in terms of sports and in the offices
The NBA market might have a new protagonist. Dejounte Murray has requested to leave the New Orleans Pelicans, and the franchise has confirmed that it is exploring different possibilities to find a deal that satisfies all parties. This situation raises questions about the continuity of the point guard, who is entering his third season with the team.
According to Andy Backstrom reported on Yahoo Sports, the Pelicans are evaluating trade opportunities after receiving the player's request. Additionally, journalist and insider Chris Haynes has pointed out that the Phoenix Suns have shown interest in acquiring the services of the three-time All-Star.
The news comes at a particularly delicate time for New Orleans. The Pelicans have a record of four wins and eight losses at the start of the season, but the most striking fact is that they have only won one of the nine games in which Murray has participated.
The 30-year-old point guard is averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. However, his shooting percentages are far from convincing, especially from three-point range, where he hits 29.6%.
Murray lashes out at criticism and raises tensions in New Orleans
The trade request did not come out of nowhere. In recent days, Murray has been involved in several confrontations on social media after receiving criticism for his performance and, especially, for his attitude on the court.
One of the most commented episodes came after the Pelicans’ heavy loss to the Brooklyn Nets, 145-111. The X account Pro Pels Talk, dedicated to analyzing the franchise's current situation, published different sequences from the game questioning some of the point guard's decisions and actions.
Murray directly responded to one of those posts, which analyzed a turnover following a bad pass directed at Saddiq Bey.
"Ohhhhh, let's talk about it. When you run post plays, are they supposed to receive the ball near the basket or at the three-point line? Let's hear from you, social media coach, general manager, and president. You have no idea what we’re going through," the player wrote in a post that he later deleted.
In that same message, he also asked that individual members of the roster be questioned about how they felt regarding the team's situation.
It was not his only controversial intervention. Murray also reacted to a post from NBACentral highlighting that New Orleans had achieved a record of three wins and no losses without his presence this season.
The point guard responded with several laughing emojis and left a message where he spoke of alleged sabotage within the franchise. That post also disappeared from his profile.
Phoenix Suns, attentive to Dejounte Murray's situation
With the conflict now moved to the offices, Phoenix appears as one of the potential destinations for the player. Chris Haynes reported the Suns' interest, although details about a possible offer or the conditions of a potential agreement have not yet emerged.
Journalist Shams Charania explained on ESPN that Murray had met with the New Orleans officials in recent days to inform them that he wanted to leave and play an important role on another team.
"He has made it clear to the organization that he wants to go somewhere else and play an important role on another team," Charania explained on the 'NBA Today' program.
The insider was also blunt when evaluating the player's immediate future: "It's clear that this is not working. He is not going to play basketball in New Orleans for the time to come."
While his future is resolved, the Pelicans will have to reorganize their playmaking duties. The responsibility will mainly fall on Jeremiah Fears, selected with the seventh pick in the 2025 Draft. The 20-year-old young point guard has taken advantage of Murray's absences to average 18 points and nine assists in the three games his teammate has missed.
Injuries have also affected his time with the Pelicans
Dejounte Murray's adventure in New Orleans has also not been supported by the necessary physical continuity. Since his arrival before the 2024-25 season, he has only been able to play 54 games in a Pelicans jersey.
An Achilles tendon rupture during his first season hampered much of his time with the team and also caused him to miss a significant part of the following season.
His best version came in 2021-22 when he was still donning the colors of the San Antonio Spurs. That season, he made his first and only All-Star Game selection and finished as the top steal leader in the entire NBA.
He then spent two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to New Orleans. The Pelicans then made a strong bet on him, giving up two first-round picks, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, and Cody Zeller in exchange for his services.
Now, just two seasons after that deal, the franchise is exploring how to find him a way out. The Phoenix Suns are on the horizon, although it remains to be seen if there is a proposal capable of convincing New Orleans and allowing Murray to start a new chapter in the NBA.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: El posible destino de Dejounte Murray tras pedir ser traspasado de los Pelicans
