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Just days before the start of the 2024 NBA free agency period beginning, another big name has been traded. First reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, the trade between the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans goes as follows:
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
- Larry Nance
- Dyson Daniels
- 2025 First-Round Pick (Via Lakers)
- 2024 First-Round Pick (Least Favorable of Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive:
- Dejounte Murray
After five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs that saw him turn into an All-Star, Murray would be traded to the Atlanta Hawks to play alongside All-Star guard Trae Young. In his two seasons in Atlanta, Murray averaged 21.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1.5 SPG on shooting splits of 45% from the field and 36% from three.
For the Pelicans, they finally landed a distributing guard that they wanted to play alongside Zion Williamson. Murray cannot only create his shot but set up the floor for players like Zion. For the Pelicans, the trade came at a small cost, but there is still plenty that New Orleans can do. The 2025 first-round Lakers pick may not be as valuable as originally thought with the team being in the middle of the pack. The 2027 first-round pick (either New Orleans or Milwaukee’s) could be more valuable with Milwaukee having a questionable future.
For Atlanta, they get two first-round picks that they were in desperate need of as they traded away multiple first-round picks to the Spurs for Dejounte Murray. Larry Nance and Dyson Daniels are both solid players, but there is no telling if the two will be with the Hawks come the start of the 2024-25 season.
Atlanta and New Orleans both have numerous questions remaining following this trade. Many expected the Hawks to trade either Dejounte Murray or Trae Young with it being clear the two did not work together as other teams around them were getting better. Young has been linked to several teams, but reports say Murray had more trade value than Young. Young could still be on the move, teasing interest in the Los Angeles Lakers following the hiring of new head coach JJ Redick. Just drafting Zachary Risacher first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Atlanta can start over, trading Young for promising young players and pick, but there is no telling what they will do.
Like Atlanta, New Orleans has several players who could be on the move. Brandon Ingram has been in numerous rumors following the Pelicans’ first-round exit and exit interview with Executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin. Many reports noted he has more interest in a potential trade over Trae Young in Atlanta. There are also many questions for CJ McCollum following the trade for Murray. While he’s still a productive guard in the league, he has not been able to give the Pelicans what they wanted alongside Zion Williamson. It is expected both that Atlanta and New Orleans will be making more moves in the coming days and weeks.
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