OCTOBER 24: Imaging has indeed revealed that Murray broke his left hand, sources tell Charania. He now faces a lengthy recovery before he can play his second game for the Pelicans.
OCTOBER 23: The Pelicans are concerned that combo guard Dejounte Murray may have fractured his left hand during his New Orleans regular season debut on Wednesday, sources inform Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The 6’5″ vet was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Hawks this summer that saw New Orleans give up multiple role players and draft picks. In the Pelicans’ 123-111 victory over the Bulls, Murray scored 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the floor and 6-of-7 shooting from the charity stripe. He also handed out 10 assists and pulled down eight boards.
New Orleans won 49 contests last season, but was quickly swept out of the playoffs by the Thunder in the first round in the spring. In making a play for Murray, team president David Griffin opted to load up on two-way backcourt talent. Should the injury be a break, that move could come back to bite the Pelicans during the regular season.
A former All-Star and All-Defensive player with the Spurs, Murray struggled to find his footing during his two seasons in Atlanta, playing alongside another ball-dominant guard in All-Star Trae Young.
While plying his trade for the Hawks, Murray averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game on .462/.355/.810 shooting splits. The team, however, made the playoffs only once during his tenure.
New Orleans represented a far more balanced squad for Murray, perhaps his best chance yet to make at least the second round of the playoffs. With his health now a long-term concern this year, the Pelicans’ fate is suddenly far more tenuous in what figures to be a competitive Western Conference race.
Not sure if its a blockbuster if the best player going the other way was an aging Larry Nance Jr. I get the draft picks, but that package was almost nothing-level.
Dyson Daniels >>> Nance. If you’re gonna criticize a deal, at least get the facts right.
If his shooting improvement is real, he’s a high quality 3-and-D guy.
Same guy who said Kuminga is the next Lebron. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.
Nothing to see here guys but an L take from a guy who cant be taken seriously.
A few pre-season games and two days of regular season and it feels like half the league is already out.
CJ McCollum start at PG for now and Hawkins please step up. Players are injured but they need a C.
I know everyone is sick of my trade ideas then I’ll just recommend they need to waive some players (Cain and Green sorry) and sign a couple young guys and a veteran.
Examples are Bismack Biyombo is a must, Amari Bailey, Alex Fudge and Lofton ( Bismack, John Butler, Bailey and Fudge is who they should sign and two to two way contract IMO)
Lofton and Bailey suck
Do you think Bailey has a potential at 20?
They should sign Bismack Biyombo
Offer Ingram and some sort of picks for Ayton
Not a bad trade idea, but I think some picks needed to be added. Salaries are both comparable and so is the need for each player.
BI14 does not want to be in NOLA any longer anyways, I can see a team like Memphis going after him and dangling Brandon Clarke and Marcus Smart for starting offer.
I actually have been saying Ingram to Memphis for a couple months for Smart lol. It makes good sense now. I glad you mentioned and and thought of it too. They could use a SF and he fits the age timeline as everyone else. Even Ayton might be good for a year
I was thinking the same thing as Smart, Konchar and GG Jackson. Then they trade CJ and GG for Ayton and future considerations
GG in Portland would be best for him
Anyone?
Nobody wants Brandon ingram. He’s talented but there’s baggage.
Thanks for replying. I’m sure Ingram would fit somewhere
Not sure if you’ll see this but I was looking through some of my old messages. Brandon Ingram sure looked good against the Warriors last night. Scored at will. But I guess he’s a person with strong will and doesn’t take the coaching as well as some other guys.
This team has to be snakebitten with injuries every year. I just want to see this team healthy for a stretch in the playoffs
Yes came to mention the same thing. This team is jinxed right now with injuries and we hate to see it. And it’s not just this season it’s been quite a while in the past.
You always hope that in the coming season things will change. They even brought in a NEW guy who’s an All-Star and he gets hurt.
Shame for DeJounte, he’s a good player in this league. Zion needs all the help he can get in a LOADED western conference.
Any idea what the time table might be for his return?
3 months? Just a guess from my area of expertise which is in nothing special lol.
I’m wondering if because it’s his left hand that may be shortened by 2 weeks? Two and a half months? You can rehab and shoot sort of and run and keep his left hand immobilized through much of it?
Tough break for Murray and his new team. He’ll be back, but the team has probably lost the chance to come out of the gate and establish a new identity, not tied to Zion. That its his left hand, and it took imaging to confirm the break, are both good signs. It’s a good chance to the NOP to prove they aren’t as poorly constructed as they often appear.
Familiar faces in new places has a curse already??? Dejounte, PG, Wiseman….