Pelicans Acquire Murray to Strengthen Roster
The New Orleans Pelicans are bolstering their lineup, adding a fourth star player by trading two players and two draft picks for former All-Star Dejounte Murray. This strategic move aims to enhance both ends of the floor for the Pelicans.
Atlanta Hawks’ Backcourt Breakup
The Atlanta Hawks have decided to dismantle the backcourt duo of Dejounte Murray and Trae Young after two disappointing seasons, during which they only secured two playoff victories.
Murray’s Impressive Stats
As Murray returns to the Western Conference with four more years on his current contract, here are some key statistics about the 27-year-old guard:
Exclusive Company, Career Year
- Elite Group: Murray is one of only three qualified players (alongside Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic) to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and six assists per game over the past three seasons.
- Career Highs: In the last season, Murray achieved career highs in points per game (22.5), effective field goal percentage (52.8%), and true shooting percentage (55.5%). However, he ranked 38th among 48 players with a usage rate of 25% or higher in true shooting percentage.
Defensive Prowess
- Steals Leader: Over the last five seasons, Murray has averaged 1.6 steals per game, the fourth-most among 203 players who have played at least 250 total games.
- Deflections: He ranked seventh in the league with 3.0 deflections per game this past season, although this was a slight decrease from previous seasons.
- Defensive Impact: Opponents shot 50.7% on shots defended by Murray, compared to an expected mark of 47.1%, a differential of +3.6%, which was the 14th worst among 225 players who defended at least 500 shots.
Mid-Range Mastery
- Consistent Improvement: Murray’s 2-point shooting percentage has improved every season, reaching 51.8% this past season.
- Mid-Range Accuracy: He is one of four players (along with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid) to shoot 45% or better on at least 250 mid-range attempts in each of the last two seasons.
- Pull-Up Specialist: This past season, Murray shot 51.6% on pull-up 2-pointers, the fourth-best mark among 45 players with at least 200 attempts.
- Shot Distribution: Murray took 18% of his shots from mid-range, down from 27% in 2022-23, with a career-high 37.9% of his shots coming from 3-point range.
Clutch Performance
- Clutch Scorer: Murray is one of eight players to score at least 100 clutch points in each of the last two seasons.
- Game Winners: This past season, he tied for second with eight shots (out of 16 attempts) to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime.
- Clutch Efficiency: Murray’s clutch shooting percentages varied over the last three seasons, with notable differences in 2-point, 3-point, and free-throw shooting.
Murray’s Clutch Shooting:
| Season | 2PM | 2PA | 2P% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 32 | 67 | 47.8% | 3 | 14 | 21.4% | 21 | 31 | 67.7% |
| 2022-2023 | 35 | 73 | 47.9% | 6 | 19 | 31.6% | 26 | 32 | 81.3% |
| 2023-2024 | 32 | 75 | 42.7% | 8 | 28 | 28.6% | 18 | 28 | 64.3% |
| Total | 99 | 215 | 46.0% | 17 | 61 | 27.9% | 65 | 91 | 71.4% |
Clutch = Score within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime
Impact on the Hawks
- On-Court Performance: Over their two seasons together, the Hawks were outscored by 2.5 points per 100 possessions in 2,779 regular-season minutes with Murray and Young on the floor together. However, they had a positive net rating of +0.6 per 100 possessions in 4,401 minutes with only one of them on the floor.
- Seasonal Differential: The Hawks were outscored by 6.5 points per 100 possessions in 1,172 minutes with both Murray and Young on the floor together this past season, the worst mark among the team’s 26 two-man combinations that shared the floor for at least 500 minutes.
- Offense and Defense: The differential this past season was nearly equal on offense (3.9 points per 100 possessions better with only one of the two on the floor) and defense (4.0 points better).
Conclusion
Dejounte Murray’s addition to the New Orleans Pelicans marks a significant shift in their lineup. As the Pelicans integrate Murray into their roster, they aim to enhance their competitive edge in the Western Conference.
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