Trae Young Opens Up About Atlanta Hawks’ Split with Dejounte Murray
Although Trae Young and Dejounte Murray were brought together by the Atlanta Hawks a couple of seasons ago, their partnership in the backcourt didn’t quite pan out as expected. Trae Young has recently shared his thoughts on his time playing alongside Murray, who is now with the New Orleans Pelicans.
During the offseason, the Pelicans made a significant move by acquiring Murray from the Hawks, enhancing their roster as they aim to build a strong team around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
In exchange for Murray, the Pelicans traded Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two future first-round picks to the Hawks. Atlanta, on the other hand, decided to reshape their roster around Young after concluding that the Murray experiment hadn’t been as successful as hoped.
Murray’s addition to the Pelicans is viewed as a major upgrade to their backcourt, bringing his well-rounded skill set to bolster both their offense and defense. His playmaking abilities and defensive skills are expected to complement the Pelicans’ existing talents.
With this trade, the Pelicans have positioned themselves as serious contenders in the Western Conference, with aspirations for a deep playoff run and an NBA title challenge in the upcoming season.
Trae Young Reflects on Split with Dejounte Murray
Months after the trade, Young discussed his experience playing with Murray during an episode of *Podcast P with Paul George*.
Young admitted that while there were positives and negatives, the main disappointment was not achieving the level of success they had hoped for on the court. However, he emphasized that their relationship off the court remains strong and that they share similar values and bonds beyond basketball.
Despite their strong off-court relationship, Young acknowledged that their on-court chemistry was lacking. Both players, being unselfish, sometimes struggled with finding the right balance between scoring and playmaking. While Murray was a versatile player known for his defense and all-around abilities in San Antonio, their partnership in Atlanta never quite clicked as expected.
Young expressed his frustration that the duo didn’t work out as planned but understood that the team had to make changes to move forward.
The Hawks’ decision to trade Murray was a recognition that the pairing wasn’t producing the desired results. While Young was disappointed, he accepted the reality of the situation and the team’s need to adjust.
Looking ahead, the Hawks’ offseason moves, including acquiring Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher, suggest a focus on building a roster that better complements Young’s strengths and the team’s evolving identity. Whether these changes will prove successful remains to be seen when the new season begins.
