Dejounte Murray Sends Heartfelt Message to Hawks, Fans After Pelicans Trade

The Atlanta Hawks agreed to trade Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans on June 28.

The deal was not finalized until July 6, when the league’s business moratorium was lifted and the Pelicans added another salary to the case.

Murray has since shown off his new Pels uniform and sent a message to new teammate Herb Jones. Jones gives Murray his No. 5 and switches to No. 2 next season. Murray has now sent his heartfelt farewell message to Hawks fans.

“ATLANTA…. Thank you For making me and my family feel at home. To my brothers over the past two years in ATL, I appreciate and love you. To the staff I have built relationships with, thank you for everything!!!! I can’t forget all the ATL fans who have shown LOVE!” Murray posted on X on July 7.

The Pelicans’ new star is coming off a solid season, averaging a career-high 22.5 points and shooting a career-high 36.3 percent from three-point range on 7.1 attempts.

He is expected to begin a four-year contract worth $114 million.

With his $12 million bonus — the largest in the league and the Hawks’ obligation to pay it — Murray will receive $126 million over the next four years. He joins a Pelicans team that has made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.

The Hawks also sent a thanks to Murraythat the organization acquired from the San Antonio Spurs nearly two years to the day before trading him to the Pelicans.

This is a turning point for both organizations.

“The Pelicans and Hawks reside closer to the middle“The Hawks are retooling their roster and getting a bit younger behind first-round pick Zaccharie Risacher. Trae Young might seem a bit out of place in that direction, but he’s only 25. Jalen Johnson, the team’s only true untouchable, is 22, between Young and the upcoming youth movement.”

Lowe then noted there was little market for three-time All-Star Young, who is entering the third year of a four-year, $215.1 million contract.

The Hawks also have maintained a sufficiently high asking price to deter interest, according to Lowe.

Young has always expressed his desire to win. The Hawks have built a team around him that might better fit his skill set, with length, athleticism and/or defense at the other four positions. Guard Murray-Young hasn’t delivered the results everyone expected.

However, the trade gives the Hawks and Pelicans a chance to evaluate their stars before deciding on even more drastic measures, if nothing else.