New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the franchise, and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, and team officials have started working on a resolution, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.
Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, according to sources. The Pelicans are 4-8 to start the season and have lost four games in a row, including a 145-111 blowout at home to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
The trade request followed a turbulent week for the 30-year-old guard. After the loss to Brooklyn, Murray responded on social media to a post noting that New Orleans is 3-0 this season when he does not play and 1-8 when he does, writing, "From what's going on INSIDE, this sounds like someone hit you to say this! THE 'SABOTAGE' IS REAL!" He deleted the post shortly afterward. Murray has also been ruled out of Friday night's NBA Cup game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a left ankle sprain.
The Phoenix Suns are among the teams that have expressed interest in Murray, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported, though no trade agreement or specific package has been reported.
Murray was acquired by the Pelicans in a June 2024 trade with the Atlanta Hawks, with New Orleans sending two first-round picks, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr. and E.J. Liddell to Atlanta. He arrived off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game, but injuries have limited him to just 54 games over the past three seasons. He broke his hand in the 2024 season opener and later suffered a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon in January 2025.
Murray, who made the All-Star team in 2022, is averaging 13.4 points per game this season and is making $32.8 million this season, with a player option worth $30.8 million for next season.
