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Pelicans reportedly acquire Dejonte Murray from Hawks for Nance Jr., Daniels, two first-round picks

Atlanta Hawks v Phoenix Suns

The Dejounte Murray and Trae Young experiment is over.

Can the Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson experiment be more successful?

We’re about to find out. The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, a story broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Here’s how the trade breaks out:

Pelicans receive: Dejounte Murray
Hawks receive: Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, Lakers unprotected 2025 first-round pick, worse of Bucks/Pelicans 2027 first-round picks

This trade likely comes together fast because Murray’s contract extension kicks in July 1, at which point he gets a $12 million trade bonus (hat tip ESPN’s Bobby Marks). This trade also hard-caps the Pelicans at the first apron, which they are currently $8.5 million below.

A lot of thoughts here.

• Hawks fans appear split on this deal, but I’m not sure the team could have gotten much more. Dyson Daniels is a young player coveted around the league and a real get, and that Lakers pick next season has a lot of potential. Don’t forget that Larry Nance Jr. is great in the locker room and a solid role player, and there’s a second first-rounder.

• As a reminder, the Hawks aren’t in a position to just tear it down and tank because the Spurs have their picks (two outright in 2025 and 2027, plus swap rights in 2026). What the Hawks have done is replenish that with the Lakers 2025 pick and the Hawks or Bucks pick in 2027.

• Trae Young is staying now, and the team will build around him. Next season the Hawks could roll out a starting five of Young, Daniels (who is the kind of quality defender needed next to Young), No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela (although the Hawks continue to explore trades for the center).

• The Pelicans just became a lot more dangerous, even in a deep West. Murray averaged 22.5 points and 6.4 assists a game while shooting 36.3% from 3 last season. He’s 6’5″ and a plus defender, and CJ McCollum has worked off the ball a lot in the past in Portland — the Pelicans think that pairing can work.

• Next season, New Orleans likely starts Murray and McCollum in an outstanding…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pelicans-reportedly-acquire-dejonte-murray-234650334.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-28 23:46:50

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