Dejounte Murray's representatives at Klutch Sports requested a trade for the New Orleans Pelicans guard on Friday, a move that comes as the team looks for answers after a difficult stretch. The Pelicans said they will evaluate trade opportunities, but the outcome of that review is not yet known, and it remains unclear whether a deal will be completed.
The request came on the same day Murray was ruled out of a game against Memphis with a left ankle sprain. Head coach Mosley said Murray was not at the arena. The Pelicans were on a four-game losing streak at the time of the request, and the team has gone 1-8 with Murray in the lineup. The timing underscores how much the franchise has struggled to build momentum around its veteran guard.
Murray, 30, is a former All-Star guard who earned that honor in 2022. He is earning a reported salary of $32.8 million this season and holds a $30.8 million player option for next season. That contract situation adds weight to any trade discussions as the organization weighs its options, since the decision on the option would shape Murray's future financial and roster picture.
New Orleans acquired Murray in June 2024 from the Atlanta Hawks. The price was two first-round picks, along with Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and E.J. Liddell. The deal was made under then-executive David Griffin, whose tenure preceded the current front office structure. Murray's time with the Pelicans has been defined largely by injuries. He broke a hand in the 2024 season opener and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in January 2025. Over three seasons in New Orleans he has appeared in only 54 games, averaging 16.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds with the team.
The gap between what the Pelicans paid for Murray and what he has delivered on the floor has become a central part of the story. Two first-round picks and three rotation players went out the door, yet a guard who was supposed to anchor the backcourt has spent much of his New Orleans career on the sideline. Each new absence has made it harder for the club to evaluate him as a long-term piece, and the losses have piled up while he has been unavailable.
Murray's frustration has also played out publicly. He posted messages on social media alleging inside «lsabotage», and one tweet noting the Pelicans' 3-0 record without him was later deleted. Mosley said the team's focus remains on the players who are available and on the standards the Pelicans expect. He has called for the team to return to an earlier, stronger style of play that he believes can help it recover from the current slide.
For now, the Pelicans' next moves are the key unknown. The club has not said which trade options it is considering, and no agreement has been announced. Whether Murray remains in New Orleans or is moved will depend on the evaluation now underway, and on whether a deal emerges that the organization considers worthwhile.