The New Orleans Pelicans completed a significant offseason move by trading for Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. With the team in need of a true point guard to relieve CJ McCollum—primarily a shooting guard—Murray was an ideal fit. While he often played off the ball in Atlanta, the move to New Orleans gave him the opportunity to take charge of the offense and handle primary playmaking duties.
Unfortunately, the Murray experiment was cut short after just one game. During the Pelicans’ Opening Night victory, he suffered a fractured hand, sidelining him for an extended period.
As a result, the Pelicans are forced to revert to last season’s approach, with McCollum taking over at point guard and utilizing a bigger lineup. While relying on McCollum isn’t the worst scenario, and Murray’s injury isn’t season-ending, the team could significantly improve by bolstering their backcourt depth. Luckily for New Orleans, a great option is currently available on the open market: Markelle Fultz. Signing him wouldn’t even require a trade.
Markelle Fultz makes too much sense as potential Dejounte Murray replacement
Markelle Fultz may not have lived up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft (selected two spots ahead of Jayson Tatum), but during his five seasons with the Orlando Magic, he grew into a reliable and productive rotation player.
Fultz experienced a dip in performance during the 2023-24 season, but the year before, he delivered solid numbers. He averaged 14.0 points per game on efficient 51.4/31.0/78.3 shooting splits, along with 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and strong perimeter defense. He started 60 games that season, logging just under 30 minutes per contest.
It’s understandable that Fultz didn’t land a big free agency deal given his extensive injury history and below-average shooting for a guard. However, the fact that he remains unsigned by late October is surprising. Fultz is certainly talented enough to claim a spot as one of the 15 players on almost any NBA roster.
With Fultz still available in free agency, the Pelicans have an opportunity to sign him to a low-cost, one-year deal and give him a chance to earn playing time. With Murray sidelined and limited depth behind McCollum and Jose Alvarado, adding the 26-year-old Fultz makes perfect sense. He’s the best option on the market, and even if things don’t pan out, the move carries virtually no risk. Considering Murray’s extended absence, it would be unwise for the Pelicans to pass on this opportunity.
