The New Orleans Pelicans are looking ahead to the future during this upcoming NBA season. After the infamous Anthony Davis trade saga, the team returned looking bright.
A vaunted Los Angeles Lakers core, a boatload of draft picks, and generational talent Zion Williamson were all tick marks for NOLA. However, since then, the results haven’t met the hype.
The team falls short of expectations each season, whether it be poor roster fit or injuries. Last season was somehow a combination of both. After a relatively injury-free year, the team’s 3-point shooting, or lack thereof, became a major problem.
Eventually, a Zion Williamson injury took the life out of any upset hopes, and the team fell apart in the playoffs.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
This season the team comes in with a far more different look. Most notably, the team now has a true PG and a closer specialist in Dejounte Murray to navigate the offense. And, as it stands, both Murray and GM David Griffin are optimistic about their future.
Dejounte Murray has team success on his mind
A one-time All-Star, Dejounte Murray came to the Atlanta Hawks amid much fanfare. With averages of 21.1 points and 9.2 assists, he was a playmaker extraordinaire, leading the league in triple-doubles in his final season with the San Antonio Spurs.
However, in Atlanta, the team never got the wheels turning. Instead, the dual Point Guard duo of Murray and Trae Young could never find their groove. Over two seasons, the team held a .500 record tight, despite individual brilliance from both guards.
That is the lesson that Dejounte is bringing with him to New Orleans. Regardless of averaging a career-high 22.5 ppg last season, the focus is on team success for the youngest All-Defensive player in history.
“It’s a business and I stay out of when it comes to the front office. You’ve got to realize, in the NBA, you have to win. It’s not on one player,” Murray said. “You always have to do what’s best for your team, and sometimes those are hard things, and I understand. That’s the same thing I try to tell young guys coming into the league — control what you can control.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans Updates
Giving praise to his new team, Dejounte knows how special the core in New Orleans is. However, he knows his role and how he can help the team grow. In particular, he hopes to establish a connection with superstar Zion Williamson, who he believes he can take to the next level.
“I understand my role. I’m a basketball player. I’m not a GM. I want to continue to grow as a man, and a father, and a basketball player,” Murray said. “I fit in perfectly, and I think it’s going to be a smooth transition. That’s our superstar and I’m excited to push him. I told him I’m going to push him. If I see something I think he can be better at, if he sees something to me, we’re going to be open to that. … I’m excited to push him to the next level because there are a bunch of levels he can reach.”
What does Murray bring to the Pelicans?
For the Pelicans, one of the biggest problems last season was the roster construction. In Brandon Ingram, Zion, and Jonas Valanciunas, they had 3 sub-par shooters in the starting lineup. As a result, the offense would clog down, especially in crunch time. That is where the signing of Murray makes the most sense. With 4 buzzer beaters this past season alone, Dejounte has staked his claim as one of the best closers in the league.
Additionally, on the defensive end as well, he can ratchet up the intensity during those select positions. While not as effective as his All-Defensive caliber self on a per-possession basis, Murray can clamp down with the best of them. Further, his natural passing ability gives the team a true playmaker, something they’ve lacked since CJ McCollum took over as the pseudo-PG.
That idea of a solid clutch-time offense, along with a true shot creator is what drove the Pelicans and Griffin forward. “When talked about where are the opportunities for us to improve, the vast majority of those questions ended with one answer, and it was Dejounte Murray,” Griffen said.
Soon enough, the trade came through. Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, E.J. Liddell, and two future firsts. However, the Pelicans still have moves to make. Brandon Ingram remains a pending decision and the team could instead pivot to a trade for CJ to give Murray and BI space to operate. As a result, New Orleans could also fill the hole at center left by the departure of Jonas Valanciunas.
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