The Atlanta Hawks are expected to retain either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray during the upcoming offseason, with the New Orleans Pelicans expressing a preference for pursuing the latter to bolster their roster for the next season.
Despite minimal changes to the Pelicans’ roster, featuring Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum as the core players throughout most of the season, the team achieved an 11th-place ranking in offense and seventh in defense out of the 30 NBA teams.
While the Pelicans experienced a slowdown towards the end of the regular season, they clinched a playoff spot through the Play-In Tournament, earning a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. However, they were eliminated in a clean sweep by the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder team.
This defeat underscored the vulnerability of Williamson in crucial moments, Ingram’s inability to step up in his absence, and the necessity for a proficient point guard to orchestrate the team’s offense. Despite these setbacks, promising developments emerged, including the progress of Trey Murphy II and Herb Jones as versatile wing players capable of making impacts on both ends of the court.
New Orleans Pelicans Prefer To Go For Dejounte Murray Rather Than Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young
In considering their options for next season, particularly in acquiring a point guard, the Pelicans are eyeing either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. According to sources mentioned in an article by Christian Clark for NOLA.com, the Pelicans appear more inclined towards Murray due to his defensive prowess and more cost-effective contract compared to Young.
Murray, standing at 6-5, showcased his skills in the 78 games he played for the Hawks this season, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, with solid shooting percentages from the field, three-point range, and the free throw line. His defensive abilities add further appeal as a potential target for the Pelicans in the offseason.
The method by which the Pelicans might secure a trade for Murray remains uncertain, but acquiring him instead of Trae Young would undoubtedly be a significant boon for New Orleans in the upcoming season.
