New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray blasts reports of a trade request made a few weeks ago after returning to action on Tuesday.
After missing the first three quarters of the NBA season, essentially, one of the first things that New Orleans Pelicans fans heard about guard Dejounte Murray this season was that he wanted to be traded. Now, Murray is refuting that notion.
Heading into the trade deadline, it was reported from a couple of sources that the Pelicans were trying to shop Murray and that the feeling was mutual.
It made some sense. New Orleans could very well want to try to get out of the final two years (counting a player option), and Murray could want to go somewhere that has a clearer outlook for winning.
The 29-year-old made his return to the court in Tuesday's win over the Golden State Warriors and quickly got to work on social media defending his name.
Pelicans-based podcast The Peli Pod posted the following on X.com:
"Murray played well last night. He still requested a trade before the deadline this year, and his agent is Rich Paul. I can’t see him here next year."
While nothing too inflammatory, Murray was clearly not a fan of these trade rumors and wanted to defend himself. He posted this in response to that original message:
"LETS CLEAR THE AIR CAUSE *EXPLETIVE* A SOURCE... 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!! (laugh emoji) (sweat emoji) It’s Bouts To Get Fun!! (popcorn bucket emoji)"
Whether or not Murray, and/or his representation, actually wanted a trade earlier this month is one of those things that will never truly be known. The smoke must have come from somewhere, but that could have been anything.
What can be known is that the coaching staff and his teammates have been nothing but extremely complimentary of Murray's involvement and care about the team while rehabbing from his injury away from them. Jeremiah Fears, especially, has stated that Murray has been one of his biggest early mentors, despite just spending their first minutes on the court together (in game action) on Tuesday.
The trade didn't happen, and now Murray is on the team for at least the rest of this season. He is owed $32.8 million next year and has a $30.8 million player option.
New Orleans' front office still clearly believes that they have a competitive roster on their hands. If they perform well down the final stretch of the season, it could mean that they buy in on these veterans and just keep this group together. That includes Murray.