The relationship between Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans has reportedly fractured, leading to a formal trade request from the All-Star guard. His representatives at Klutch Sports initiated the request, prompting a response from the team.
“Today, Dejounte Murray’s representatives informed us of his request to be traded,” the Pelicans stated. “We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization.”
Murray, 30, was sidelined for Friday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a left ankle sprain. Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed Murray was not present at Smoothie King Center.
“He’s not in the building, from what I’ve been told,” Mosley remarked.
A Challenging Chapter in New Orleans
The Pelicans acquired Murray in June 2024 from the Atlanta Hawks. The trade package included two first-round picks, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and E.J. Liddell.
David Griffin, who then served as the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations, envisioned Murray as a defensive asset and playmaker capable of assisting Zion Williamson with ball-handling duties. However, Murray's performance never reached the caliber of his 2022 All-Star season.
His tenure in New Orleans was significantly impacted by injuries, including a broken hand in the 2024 season opener and a season-ending Achilles injury in January 2025.
Over the past three seasons, Murray has appeared in only 54 games for the Pelicans, averaging 16.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. During his time on the court, the team has compiled a 1-8 record.
Murray's current salary is reported at $32.8 million for the ongoing season, with a player option for $30.8 million next season.
Public Frustration and Social Media Posts
Murray had recently voiced his dissatisfaction with the team through several critical posts on social media. After a social media reporter noted the Pelicans' 3-0 record when Murray was not in the lineup, Murray directly responded:
“From what’s going on INSIDE, this sounds like someone hit you to say this! THE ‘SABOTAGE’ IS REAL!”
This post was subsequently deleted. The timing of his trade request has drawn attention, surfacing while the Pelicans were enduring a four-game losing streak.
Coach Jamahl Mosley Addresses Team Focus
Despite the unfolding situation, Coach Mosley affirmed his commitment to the players currently available and to upholding the team’s performance standards.
“How well we play is very important to me, and making sure that we keep up that standard,” Mosley stated. “That’s why it’s so glaring when we don’t, because I know what this team has shown during training camp, what it has shown during the preseason.”
Mosley also emphasized the necessity for the Pelicans to revert to the playing style they exhibited earlier in the season.
“The first couple games didn’t go on the win column, but the way we played, we did a lot of good things. … As the leader of this group, how we’ve been playing these last three games have not been a representation of this organization, the city, of the way we said we were going to play. That’s been my focus over this last day or so. How do we get back to that style of basketball that we know represents this organization the right way?”