Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans, and talks over his exit have already started, ESPN has reported.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Murray’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, and Pelicans officials have begun working on a resolution, with sources saying the guard has made it clear he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, according to ESPN.
The Pelicans have since confirmed the request. “Today, Dejounte Murray’s representatives informed us of his request to be traded. We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization,” the club said in a statement on Friday afternoon (US time).
Pelicans slump and deleted posts
New Orleans are 4-8 to start the 2026-27 NBA season and have lost four straight, including a 145-111 home defeat to the Brooklyn Nets this week.
After that loss, Murray replied to a social media post pointing out that the Pelicans were 3-0 without him and 1-8 with him. “From what’s going on INSIDE, this sounds like someone hit you to say this! THE ‘SABOTAGE’ IS REAL!,” he wrote in a post that has since been deleted, ESPN reported.
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CBS Sports reported that the Phoenix Suns are one team to have registered interest in Murray, citing Chris Haynes.
The Dyson Daniels trade
The 30-year-old’s move to New Orleans has a strong Australian link. The Pelicans acquired Murray from the Atlanta Hawks in June 2024, sending Australian guard Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell and two first-round picks to Atlanta.
Read more: Australian NBA Players: Every Australian to Play in the NBA
Injuries have hit Murray hard since. He broke his hand in the 2024 season opener and ruptured his right Achilles tendon in January 2025, and has played just 54 games across the past three seasons.
The 2022 All-Star is averaging 13.4 points per game this season and has averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds in his time with the Pelicans.
He is in the final guaranteed season of his contract and holds a player option for 2027-28, so any deal will shape both New Orleans’ rebuild and his next payday.
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