New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray has expressed a clear desire to be traded from the franchise, according to sources familiar with the situation. His agent, Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, has begun coordinating with team officials to reach a resolution. Murray has made it known that he is eager to assume a pivotal role in meaningful basketball with a different organization.
The move comes as the Pelicans start the 2026 season with a 4-8 record. The team recently suffered a four-game losing streak, which was punctuated by a decisive 145-111 home defeat against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. This loss highlighted the team's current challenges and the growing tension surrounding Murray's presence on the roster.
Following the blowout loss to the Nets, Murray took to social media to address a statistic noting that the Pelicans are 3-0 without him and 1-8 with him on the court. In a tweet that was later deleted, he responded to the observation by stating that the situation inside the locker room sounded like someone had hit him to say it. He further remarked that the alleged sabotage was real.
Murray was originally acquired by the Pelicans in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in June 2024. As part of that deal, New Orleans sent two first-round picks along with guards Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and E.J. Liddell to Atlanta in exchange for the veteran player. At the time of the trade, Murray was coming off a strong 2023-24 season where he averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game.
However, his recent history has been marked by significant injury concerns. Over the past three seasons, Murray has appeared in only 54 games due to major health issues. He suffered a broken hand during the 2024 season opener and later endured a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon in January 2025. These setbacks have impacted his availability and performance levels over the last year and a half.
In his time with the Pelicans, Murray has averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. For the current season, his production has dipped further, with him averaging just 13.4 points per game. The 30-year-old guard is currently navigating a contract that pays him $32.8 million this season, with a player option valued at $30.8 million for the following year.
Murray’s status as a former All-Star, having made the team in 2022, adds weight to his pursuit of a new opportunity. The ongoing discussions between his representatives and the Pelicans suggest that both sides are actively looking for a mutually beneficial outcome to the situation.
