The New Orleans Pelicans are nearing the end of a challenging regular season, holding 19 wins with 19 games remaining. This marks a consecutive disappointing year for the team, intensifying the pressure to make difficult roster and personnel decisions during the upcoming offseason to move closer to contention in the competitive Western Conference. A key factor in these decisions is guard Dejounte Murray, who has recently returned from a lengthy injury hiatus and whose strong performance may influence the team’s direction.
Murray played his first game back on February 24 against the Golden State Warriors, nearly 13 months after suffering a ruptured Achilles. The 29-year-old guard demonstrated resilience, scoring 13 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and distributing 2 assists to help the Pelicans secure a 113-109 win. Over four games since his return, he has averaged 15.5 points, 6.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, signaling a promising comeback.
Murray’s Unexpected Impact Complicates Pelicans’ Offseason Strategy
Initially, many believed Murray would be traded by the deadline, fueled by speculation that he requested a trade due to dissatisfaction in New Orleans. However, following his first post-injury game, Murray took to social media to deny these rumors emphatically.
“Me Or My Agent Never Requested A Trade Out Of NEW ORLEANS!!!! Joe And The Whole Organization Know I Was Locked In To Come Back Better Than Ever To Help Make This Play In Push And Whatever Comes After That!!”
Murray stated.
The Pelicans now face a challenging decision regarding Murray’s future. His recent performance shows the type of player they expected when they acquired him before the previous season. From a financial perspective, trading him makes sense, especially given the lack of draft picks New Orleans holds in upcoming years—no picks in the next draft and only two second-round picks over the next four years.
Murray’s salary exceeds $32 million for the next season, and alongside guard Jordan Poole, who was absent from the recent loss to the Lakers, the backcourt carries a significant financial weight. The team anticipates moving at least one guard next season to alleviate salary cap constraints and allow rookie Jeremiah Fears to earn more playing time. Murray, however, brings intangible qualities valued by interim head coach James Borrego.
Leadership and Defensive Strength Define Murray’s Contributions
Coach Borrego praised Murray’s influence beyond statistics:
“Leadership, poise, just his voice, his mentality,”
Borrego said.
“The competitive spirit. He’s a two-way player. A guy that can defend at a high level. We’ve seen that in the past. He knows how to run the club as a point guard and can generate offense.”
Murray’s impact on both offense and defense is evident during his limited games since returning. He has registered at least one steal and scored no fewer than 13 points in each contest. Notably, in his comeback game against the Warriors, Murray made a crucial layup with under a minute remaining and sealed the win from the free-throw line, demonstrating clutch performance that the Pelicans have long needed.
Balancing Trade Value with Continued Development
The Pelicans could consider holding onto Murray past the trade deadline if there remains hesitation among teams about his long-term health post-injury. Keeping him for the remainder of the season would provide over 40 more games of footage, clarifying his recovery status and possibly boosting his value. Should he regain his previous All-Defensive level, the Pelicans might leverage this to acquire promising young talent through trades.
This offseason presents a pivotal moment for New Orleans. How they manage Dejounte Murray’s contract and potential trade options could significantly influence their ability to rebuild and compete. With cap space concerns, limited draft assets, and emerging prospects like Jeremiah Fears, the Pelicans must weigh immediate gains against strategic growth to establish a foothold in the Western Conference going forward.
first bucket of the game & the season for Dejounte Murray 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/I8lgZuiagp
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 25, 2026
