Trading Dyson Daniels and a first for Dejounte Murray still haunts the Pels
This trade seemed to work counterintuitively for New Orleans. Dyson Daniels had a career year with the Hawks, winning Most Improved Player and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Daniels was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches and received NBA First-Team Defensive honors. Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray's impact in New Orleans wasn't nearly the same.
Murray played just 31 games before suffering a brutal season-ending torn Achilles. Prior to the injury, the eight year veteran was in the midst of his worst shooting season of his career (39 percent shooting, 30 percent from three).
Additionally, Murray lacked his expected defensive impact, as did his usual offensive production. Last season, it looked like these two swapped bodies, and the uncertainty will remain now with Murray's rehab, as he'll almost certainly have to change his game.
New Orleans got older and unhealthier from this deal, but they also lost valuable draft capital in the process. Meanwhile, Atlanta found its backcourt counterpart next to Trae Young, brightening their future while diminishing the same for the Pelicans. This was one of the most recent moves by the team, but it wasn't the beginning of poor decisions by the organization. So, let's turn the clock back.
Extending CJ McCollum long-term has been detrimental for New Orleans
Back in 2022, when New Orleans acquired CJ McCollum, the deal felt like a major step towards competing in the Western Conference. A veteran to a young core, McCollum agreed to a two-year extension worth $64 million shortly after, keeping him in New Orleans through 2025-26. His scoring consistency was a piece of the puzzle the Pelicans were looking for, as he's averaged at least 20 points for the last decade. But the deal hasn't paid off how the organization would've hoped.
Despite the consistent production, McCollum has struggled defensively, and his durability has worsened with age. As this partnership has grown, the timeline has made less sense for both sides. On a losing team with a young core, McCollum wants to win now and compete for championships.
His offensive production makes him an interesting piece for contending teams, as he holds a career average of 20 points per game and 40 percent shooting from three. Another botch by the organization is hurting them in present time, though.