Dejounte Murray sends heartfelt message to Hawks, fans after Pelicans trade

The Atlanta Hawks agreed to trade Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans on June 28. 

The deal only became finalized on July 6 when the moratorium on league business was lifted and the Pelicans added another salary to the deal.

Murray has since shown off his new Pels gear as well as sending a shoutout to new teammate Herb Jones. Jones is giving Murray his No. 5 and switching to No. 2 next season. Now, Murray has sent his heartfelt goodbye message to Hawks fans.

“ATLANTA…. Thank You For Making Me And My Family Feel Like We Was Home. To My Brothers Over The Past 2 Years In ATL I Appreciate And Love You Guys. To The Staff I Built Relationships With, Thank You For Everything!!!! I Can’t Forget About All The Fans Of ATL That Showed LOVE!” Murray posted on X on July 7.

The Pelicans new star is coming off a strong season, averaging a career-high 22.5 points and shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc on 7.1 attempts – also a career-high.

He is set to begin a four-year, $114 million contract.

Thanks to his $12 million trade bonus – which is the largest in the league and the Hawks’ obligation to pay – Murray will receive $126 million over the next four years. He joins a Pelicans squad that has made the postseason in two of the last three seasons.

The Hawks also sent a thank you to Murray, whom the organization acquired from the San Antonio Spurs nearly two years to the day before dealing him to the Pelicans.

It is a turning point for both organizations.

Insider questions Trae Young’s place in Hawks’ ‘youth movement’

“The Pelicans and the Hawks reside closer to middle,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote on July 6. “The Hawks are resetting their roster and going somewhat younger behind No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher. Trae Young seems perhaps slightly out of place with that direction, but he's only 25. Jalen Johnson, the team's one true untouchable, is 22 -- between Young and the coming youth movement.”

Lowe went on to note that there was little market for the three-time All-Star, Young, who is entering Year 3 of a four-year, $215.1 million contract.

The Hawks have also maintained a high enough asking price to dissuade interest, per Lowe.

Young has been vocal about wanting to win. The Hawks have put a roster around him that could fit his skill set better, with length, athleticism, and/or defense at the other four spots. The Murray-Young backcourt did not yield the results that anyone involved had hoped.

However, the trade gives both the Hawks and Pelicans a chance to assess their stars before deciding on even more drastic measures if nothing else.