DeJonte Murray is traded to New Orleans.
Citing league sources, several sports media including "The Athletic" reported on the 29th (Korean time) that the Atlanta Hawks traded guard DeJonte Murray (27) to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hawks received Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, E.J. Riddell and two first-round picks in return.
Murray averaged 22.5 points, career-high 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals for Atlanta last season. The 3-point shooting success rate marked 36.3%. Murray will move the team again two years after moving from the San Antonio Spurs through a major trade in 2022.
Murray, 27, was named an All-Star in his final year with the Spurs and was named to the two All-Defensive teams in 2018. In the last three years, he has been consistent with more than 20 points, more than six assists, more than five rebounds, and more than one steal each season.
However, even after Murray's addition, the Hawks fell short of expectations. They were sluggish, going 41-41 in the 2022-23 season and 36-46 in the 2023-24 season. In addition, Murray was also embroiled in rumors of a feud with the Hawks' flagship guard, Trey Young. Young is a three-time All-Star and is a key player on the team that signed a five-year Max contract in 2022.
For New Orleans, this trade is an interesting match that they have been preparing for a long time. The Pelicans and Hawks negotiated over the recruitment of Murray just before the trade deadline in February. Both sides could not reach an agreement at the time, but this time the deal was finally made.
For the Pelicans, who recently suffered from trade rumors ahead of the expiration of Brandon Ingram's contract, recruiting an All-Star player without including Ingram is considered a great achievement.
Murray is a point guard with excellent defense and is expected to be of great help to the Pelicans, who had difficulty operating late in the game last season. The key is how to set up a backcourt combination with C.J. McCollum, but Zion Williamson's burden is expected to be greatly reduced by the recruitment of another ball handler with a wide field of view and scoring ability.
Will Gilroy, Pelicans reporter for The Athletic, asked, "Now the biggest question is, is this trade a sign that Ingram will stay with the Pelicans, or is it a sign before New Orleans makes another blockbuster?" That's why the Pelicans' next move is drawing attention. 바카라사이트 추천
Meanwhile, Atlanta, which has entered rebuilding mode, has laid the groundwork for its team to rebuild itself through the trade. It has gained momentum for its long-term growth by securing promising players Daniels and Riddell, as well as future draft picks. It also sought to balance its team's power by recruiting veteran forward Nance Jr.