On an evening when New Orleans was preparing to meet Memphis, a familiar kind of ending began to take shape: Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans' point guard, has reportedly asked to be traded, and he sat out the game as the news settled over the franchise. Such departures rarely arrive without warning, and here the signs had been gathering for some time, in public frustration, in a difficult recovery, and in numbers that have drifted from his early promise. Whether the next chapter unfolds in Phoenix, Miami, or Milwaukee remains unwritten, though each possible setting offers a backcourt searching f
Dejounte Murray Reportedly Requests Trade from Pelicans as Suns, Heat, and Bucks Emerge as Landing Spots
On an evening when New Orleans was preparing to meet Memphis, a familiar kind of ending began to take shape: Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans' point guard, has reportedly asked to be traded, and he sat out the game as the news settled over the franchise. Such departures rarely arrive without warning, and here the signs had been gathering for some time, in public frustration, in a difficult recovery, and in numbers that have drifted from his early promise. Whether the next chapter unfolds in Phoenix, Miami, or Milwaukee remains unwritten, though each possible setting offers a backcourt searching for a steadier hand.
On the night New Orleans was set to face Memphis in an NBA Cup game, Dejounte Murray was not on the floor. The Pelicans ruled their point guard out, and the timing fit with news that had broken earlier in the day: Murray has reportedly requested a trade.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the request, and his agent, Rich Paul, is working with Pelicans officials on a resolution. Neither the team nor the player has spoken publicly, so the shape of any deal remains unclear.
Phoenix is the first suitor to surface, with interest reported by Chris Haynes and a possible return centered on shooting guard Jalen Green. Miami and Milwaukee have also been named, both searching for help at the point. In Miami, Murray could take ball-handling duties from Davion Mitchell and create for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, while Milwaukee's rookie struggles could make a veteran guard attractive.
The exit has felt inevitable for some time. Murray recently defended himself against fans in social media posts that were later deleted, and his production has dipped from his October averages. What comes next depends on whether Phoenix's interest becomes a real offer and how the salary cap shapes what New Orleans can accept.
On the night New Orleans was set to face Memphis in an NBA Cup game, Dejounte Murray was not on the floor. The Pelicans ruled their point guard out, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, and the timing fit with the news of the day: Murray has reportedly asked to be traded.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the request. According to his reporting, Murray's agent, Rich Paul, is working with Pelicans officials on a resolution. Neither the team nor the player has been quoted in the material available here, so the shape of that resolution remains unknown.
The first suitor to surface is Phoenix. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that the Suns have registered interest in Murray. Miami and Milwaukee have also been named as potential landing spots, both because their backcourts are searching for answers.
The Phoenix angle comes with a possible return piece. The Athletic's Sam Amick reported earlier on Friday that opposing clubs believe the Suns are motivated to move shooting guard Jalen Green in exchange for a proven point guard. Amick later added that Murray's request could reignite trade talks between Phoenix and New Orleans. A young player like Green is the kind of asset that might appeal to the Pelicans. ESPN's Bobby Marks also examined the salary cap implications of New Orleans trading Murray, which will shape how any deal can be built.
Bleacher Report describes his exit as something that has been coming for a while. Murray recently defended himself in social media posts, later deleted, against fans who blamed him for the team's struggles. On The Pivot last year, he said he never thought he would play in New Orleans, and he called his recovery from a torn Achilles in 2025 the worst experience of his NBA career.
The numbers have followed the mood. Murray opened the season with averages of 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists across four October games. Over his last five games he has averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists, and he has missed the 10-point mark three times.
Still, the report argues he can run an offense effectively in the right setting. In Miami, he would give Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo another setup man. That would relieve Davion Mitchell of ball-handling duties and move veteran shooter Klay Thompson from the starting lineup to a sixth-man role. In Milwaukee, the team recently benched Ryan Rollins to start rookie Brayden Burries alongside Tyler Herro, but the rookie has struggled to find his footing.
What to watch now: whether Phoenix's interest becomes a real offer, whether Green is the centerpiece of it, and how the salary cap math constrains the Pelicans' options. Murray's availability is the immediate question, since he has already been ruled out of the Grizzlies game.
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