The long-entangled Dejounte Murray transfer case has finally come to an end.
According to Woj, the Hawks traded Murray to the Pelicans, and the details of the deal are as follows:
Pelicans get: Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks get: Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, EJ Liddell, a 2025 first-round pick (from the Lakers) and a 2027 first-round pick (the lower overall pick among the Bucks and Pelicans).
Here are the deal ratings for this deal:
Pelicans Trade Rating: B+
While Murray and Trae Young don't work well together, and the Hawks have struggled this season, it's an indisputable fact that Murray has just finished a season of individual performance. The 27-year-old two-way guard is one of the best outside defenders in the league.
This season, Murray is averaging 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 79.4 percent from the free-throw line and a career-high 36.3 percent from three-point range.
In 79 games this season, Murray has scored in double figures in 78 games, including 13 30+ games and four 40+ games, while also recording 20 double-doubles and one triple-double. Murray's four-year, $114 million contract extension will take effect next season, with a first-year salary of $25.2 million.
By trading Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans have earned themselves a lot of praise. The addition of Murray is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the Pelicans, who are eager to win.
The Pelicans just had their best season since 2017-18, winning 49 games and making the playoffs for the second time in the last six years. Murray and Zion are expected to be the top duo next season, but the question is who else will be on the Pelicans besides the two of them.
Valanciunas will become a free agent in the offseason, and with the trade away Nance Jr., the Pelicans are in dire need of adding depth to their frontcourt.
Currently, the Pelicans have 11 players under contract with a total salary of $163 million. After exercising the team options of Jose Alvarado and Robinson Earle, all of the Pelicans' players are fully guaranteed to their contracts.
But according to NBA salary expert Jusse Gozlan, when the Pelicans sign Yves Missey, the No. 21 pick in '24, to a $3.2 million rookie contract, the team's salary will be only $2.4 million below the luxury tax line, and the team still needs to fill two positions.
As a result, both Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum could be trade chips in exchange for a starting big man. The latest news is that the Pelicans are reluctant to offer Ingram a contract extension with an average salary of 52 million, but the new season may keep him for an extra season until next year's trade deadline. The 2024-25 season is Ingram's contract year with an annual salary of $36.01 million.
ESPN's Bobby Marks reports that if the Pelicans-Hawks trade goes through as reported, New Orleans' hard salary cap will reach $178.7 million because they send players less than they receive.
In short, the Pelicans only paid for two young players, Nance Jr. and Dyson Daniels, plus a first-round pick from the Lakers in 2025 and another first-round pick with a low pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks in 2027, to acquire the valuable Murray, which can be called a robbery deal.
Eagles Trading Rating: C-
In the NBA's Eastern Arena, the Atlanta Hawks are on a difficult journey.
Last season, the Eagles won just 36 games, which is clearly not satisfactory. The combination of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray didn't spark as expected, and when the two joined forces, the Hawks had a 55-62 record. Faced with such a predicament, the Eagles urgently need to make a change.
In this year's draft, the Hawks picked French phenom Zachary Richachel with the No. 1 pick and then traded away Murray, a series of moves that seemed to signal that the team is moving in the direction of a rebuild.
Currently, the Eagles have 13 players under contract who have opted to exercise Garrett Matthews' team option while deciding not to make a qualifying offer to Saddiq Bey, making him a full free agent. The Eagles have about $15 million in salary space to stay within the luxury tax line.
According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fisher, Rishachel and Jalen Johnson are not for sale in the Eagles. But with Murray's trade, Trae Young's name could be added to the list.
Looking back at Murray's trade, the Hawks reclaimed at least two first-round picks that were previously given to the Spurs. However, considering that the Lakers' draft picks may not make it into the lottery next year, and may even fall to the 20th pick, the actual value of those picks is not as expected.
Larry Nance Jr. is a good role player with excellent rim-attacking ability. However, the 31-year-old Nance isn't good at blocks and isn't a great interior defender.
This season, Nance has played in 61 games, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game, contributing 5.6 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He also had two double-doubles, shooting 57.3 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three-point range and 77.0 percent from the free throw line. Nance has one year left on his contract and is worth $11.2 million.
Daniels, the No. 8 rookie in 2022, has developed slightly slower than expected. Despite being only 21 years old, Daniels is far superior to his offensive prowess.
Daniels made little progress in his sophomore year, averaging 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from three-point range and 64.2 percent from the free throw line. He will receive a salary of $5.7 million for the following season, and the team has his option for the next two seasons.
Liddell is the No. 41 rookie in 2022 and has been plagued by injuries in college and career. The 23-year-old power forward has played just eight games this season, playing a total of 23 minutes. Leader will be paid $2.1 million this year, and the team has his option for the 2025-26 season.
Larry Nance Jr. is expected to be part of the Hawks' rotation, but it won't be easy for Dyson Daniels to get consistent playing time unless the Hawks make more personnel changes. As for E.J. Liddell, he will probably continue to gain experience in the G League and find his own stage.
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