Dejounte Murray shows off new Pelicans gear after Hawks trade

Former Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray’s trade to the New Orleans Pelicans cannot be completed until July 6.

In the meantime, more work is needed for the Pelicans to be in compliance with the league’s salary-matching rules. Another player could even be transferred to the Hawks in that process, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Murray, however, is not waiting.

The 2020-21 All-Star was traded for a package including former No. 10 overall pick Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and former second-round prospect E.J. Liddell.

For the Hawks, the move restocks the draft cupboard and adds some defensive teeth.

For Murray, it is a fresh start after an admittedly tumultuous tenure with the Hawks. A move that both he and Trae Young wanted saw former team president Travis Schlenk step down – only to eventually land with the Washington Wizards – and a host of other roster changes.

The Hawks’ admission that the experiment failed and trading Murray as a result would seem to cement Young’s place with the franchise for the time being.

However, there are mixed reviews about how much better the Hawks are after the deal.

Young has stood by his desire to remain in Atlanta, choosing instead to vocalize his desire to win and put the onus on the front office to put the proper pieces in place to make that happen sooner rather than later. 

After first noting that he did not feel like he had won enough even with an Eastern Conference Finals run under his belt, Young said he is no longer interested in a slow approach.

Young and Murray both brushed aside questions about trade rumors long before the trade.

The three-time All-Star, Young, is entering Year 3 of a five-year, $215.1 million contract. He will count $43 million against the salary cap in 2024-25. But he notably has a $48.9 million player option for the final season in 2026-27.

Conversely, Murray’s four-year, $114 million contract has projected charges of $28.3 million in 2024-25 and $31.3 million in 2026-27 with his trade bonus factored in, per Spotrac.

He too holds a player option for the final season of his deal.

Hawks need Dyson Daniels to pay dividends

The Pelicans are getting an aggressive, downhill threat to run their offense. Any hopes he can solve issues at the point of attack might be overstated. But Murray plays passing lanes and picks pockets, providing value on both ends of the floor.

Daniels figures to provide stopping power at the point for the Hawks. The questions about him are on the offensive end. The 6-foot-7 Aussie is a career 31.2% shooter from deep/

He averaged 2.2 attempts per game last season.

Playing under Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, though, Daniels will be encouraged to get up threes. He just has to make them. He shot 34.3% on catch-and-shoot threes in 2022-23. But that fell to 32.2% this past season.

As useful as Nance is and Liddell may prove to be, the draft capital is currently the most valuable part of the Hawks’ return in the Murray deal.

Future draft picks do not win games, though.