The Atlanta Hawks are set to trade guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, and two first-round picks, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
In this deal, Atlanta will acquire the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025 first-round pick and the least favorable of the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round picks in 2027.
Murray has spent the past two seasons with Atlanta, playing alongside point guard Trae Young. Despite his efforts, the team failed to surpass a .500 record during his tenure. Murray, who joined the Hawks from the San Antonio Spurs, was an All-Star in 2022.
The Pelicans, who played last season without a true point guard, will benefit from Murray’s skills. He led the roster in assists per game with an average of 6.4. Additionally, the 27-year-old posted averages of 22.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season.
This trade signifies a move towards rebuilding for the Hawks, who have not won a playoff series in three years.
Larry Nance Jr. will be on an expiring $11-million contract next season. He averaged 5.7 points per game last year, marking his lowest since his rookie year. Dyson Daniels, at 21 years old, has garnered recognition for his defensive abilities over two NBA seasons, although he has only managed to shoot 31.2% from three-point range in his career.
E.J. Liddell is also included in the trade package, adding another layer to the Hawks’ rebuilding efforts.
