NBA Trade Grades: Hawks trade Dejoute Murray to Pelicans as Atlanta reorganizes

While the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons completed the first trade on Friday, the New Orleans Pelicans stole the show with the acquisition of Dejounte Murray. The Pelicans traded Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels and EJ Liddell to the Atlanta Hawks, along with two first-round picks for Murray.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said one of the first-round picks the Pelicans are sending to the Hawks is the Lakers’ 2025 selection. New Orleans had the option to choose the Lakers’ first-round pick this year or the next year.

Wojnarowski added that the other first rounder will be a 2027 selection and will be the least favorable of the Milwaukee Bucks and Pelicans picks.

NBA Trade Grades: Hawks trade Dejoute Murray to Pelicans as Atlanta reorganizes

Murray is coming off another fantastic season, even though he wasn’t a good fit alongside Trae Young and the Hawks have struggled this season. The 27-year-old combo guard is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He posted career highs in scoring. and 3-point shooting last season.

Murray averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals last season. The 6-foot-5 guard made a career-high 2.6 3-pointers on 36.3 percent shooting, shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 79.4 percent from the free throw line. He had 20 double-doubles and one triple-double while scoring in double figures in 78 of 79 appearances, including 13 30-plus point games with four 40-point attempts. He is entering a four-year, $114.07 million contract extension with Atlanta.

Nance is a good role player who does his best around the basket. However, the 31-year-old doesn’t block shots and isn’t a great interior defender.

Nance averaged 5.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in nearly 20 minutes of action in 61 appearances. Nance also produced two double-doubles with shooting splits of 57.3/41.5/77.0%. He will earn $11.2 million in the final year of the contract.

Daniels, the 8th overall pick in 2022, has developed a bit slower than expected. At just 21, Daniels’ defense is well ahead of his offense.

Daniels showed little improvement in Year 2, averaging 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals. He produced a double-double last season while shooting 44.7/31.1/64.2 percent. He will make $5.7 million next season and has team options over the next two seasons.

Liddell, the No. 41 pick in 2022, has battled injuries throughout his college and professional career. The 23-year-old power forward has played 23 minutes in eight appearances. He will earn $2.1 million this year and has a team option for 2025-26.

New Orleans Pelicans Trade Grade: B-

Murray is a great acquisition for New Orleans, which is in a better position to win. Even though the Pelicans got the better end of the deal, they still have work to do.

The Pelicans are coming off their best season since 2017-18 by winning 49 games and reaching the playoffs for the second time in the last six years. Murray and Zion Williamson could emerge as one of the best duos in 2024-25, although the question will be who else makes the team.

Jonas Valanciunas is a free agent. And the Pelicans need to add frontcourt depth.

New Orleans has 11 players under contract, whose salaries total $163.3 million. With the Pelicans having exercised the options of Jose Alvarado and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, all players have fully guaranteed contracts.

When 2024 first-round pick Yves Missi signs his $3.2 million-per-year contract, the Pelicans will be just $2.4 million below the luxury tax threshold with two spots left. fill, according to NBA cap expert Yossi Gozlan. Brandon Ingram, who is eligible for an extension, and CJ McCollum are candidates to trade for a starting big man.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, if the Pelicans-Hawks trade goes through as reported, New Orleans will be capped at $178.7 million since it’s getting more than it’s giving out.

2024 second-round pick Antonio Reaves, for whom the Pelicans traded two future second-rounders, is a candidate for one of the final spots on the 15-man roster. If Reaves doesn’t get a standard deal, he’s all but guaranteed a two-way contract.

Atlanta Hawks Trade: C-

Atlanta had to do something because the Hawks were in purgatory in the East, winning 36 games last season. Young and Murray were not good choices as they only had 55 wins and 62 losses when sharing the court.

Now, with the selection of French teenager Zacharie Risacher, the first pick in this year’s draft, and the trade of Murray, he appears to be in rebuilding mode.

The Hawks have 13 players under contract with their decision to exercise Garrett Mathews’ options. The Hawks also chose not to tender Saddiq Bey a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. They cost about $15 million under the first apron.

According to Yahoo Sports, Jake Fischer, Riscacher, and Jalen Johnson are the only Hawks banned. However, now that Murray has been traded, that list could now include Young.

But back to the Murray trade. The Hawks at least got their two first-round picks that they sent to San Antonio for him. However, the Lakers’ pick is likely to come out of the lottery this year and could be in the top 20. So, there really isn’t much value in there.

Nance is a rotation player. But Daniels might struggle to find playing time unless more players transfer. Liddell is an end-of-the-bench player, who will likely continue to see more time in the G-League.