Dejounte Murray may be the closest thing the New Orleans Pelicans have to a brand-new addition this season, and that comes without any offseason roster overhaul.
The Pelicans’ quiet summer has drawn plenty of attention, but the more interesting storyline might be what happens when some of last year’s familiar faces simply show up healthy. Murray is the clearest example. He appeared in only 14 games last season, dealt with staggered minutes, and was kept out of back-to-backs, yet he still flashed the kind of impact New Orleans was hoping for.
Two years after the Pelicans sent a haul to the Atlanta Hawks to land him, the fit has still felt incomplete. Murray’s first 31 games were inefficient, and the defense was actually worse when he was on the floor. Then came the torn Achilles, which wiped out more than a calendar year.
When Murray finally got back on the court, the signs were much better. He finished with 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 48.4/30.6/86.7. New Orleans will want the three-point number to climb, especially after Murray shot 36.3% on 7.1 attempts per game in his final season with the Atlanta Hawks, but the return to form was still encouraging.
The impact showed up in the numbers, too. Per CleaningTheGlass, the Pelicans were 8.2 points better per 100 possessions with Murray on the floor last season, and both ends of the court looked stronger with him out there. That came while he was still working back from injury and never really getting a normal rhythm because of those minutes restrictions.
In Other News...
Pelicans Camp Battle Could Reshape Their Bench Before Opening Night
The Pelicans head into training camp with only a small bit of real roster intrigue, but it is the kind that can matter once the season starts. With 13 spots largely spoken for and three two-way players already set, five players are effectively chasing the final two openings on the active roster: AJ Johnson, Trendon Watford, Kobe Bufkin, Caleb Houstan and Christian Koloko. Each brings a different background and a different case for why he could fit around a team trying to sharpen its depth before opening night.
What makes the competition worth watching is how varied the paths are. Some of the candidates arrive with more experience, some with more developmental upside, and some with contract questions that could shape how long they stay in the mix. For New Orleans, the decision is less about filling out camp bodies than finding the best blend of immediate help and future value, which means this battle could end up shaping the bench in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Have Three Camp Hopefuls Fighting To Prove They Matter
The Pelicans have filled out their two-way group heading into training camp, and the attention now shifts to three hopefuls who will be trying to earn more than just a temporary look. Forward Julian Reese, guard Jaron Pierre Jr. and forward-center Malik Dia all arrive with different selling points, giving New Orleans a few distinct evaluation points as camp gets underway.
Reese will be watched for his defense and rebounding, Pierre for his offensive versatility, and Dia for the kind of floor spacing that can open up a frontcourt rotation. For a team still sorting through its depth chart, that makes this trio more than camp filler, especially because the early weeks will be about figuring out who can translate a specific skill into something the Pelicans can actually use. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Fans Have Heard This Zion Fix Before
Joe Dumars spent media day talking about internal roster improvements for the Pelicans, but the more intriguing part for New Orleans fans was his message for Zion Williamson. Dumars said the team wants Williamson to keep widening his offensive game, with a particular push to become more comfortable shooting from the perimeter and taking more jumpers to open up the floor around him.
It is a familiar refrain for a player whose talent has never been in question, only the shape of the game that follows. The skepticism is easy to understand given Zions past three-point volume, and the Pelicans know the idea of him becoming a true spacing threat has been floated before in similar situations with other players. The question is whether this version of the plan is the real next step or just another optimistic chapter in a long-running conversation. [Read more 🡒]