Dejounte Murray’s torn Achilles injury comes just days before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, which already brought its own set of complications for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Since last summer, the Pelicans have been canvassing the trade market for potential Brandon Ingram suitors, as the 27-year-old scorer is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer. To this point, the team hasn’t found a deal that provides the value it wants. As the trade deadline approaches, the Pelicans must decide whether to move Ingram or risk him leaving in free agency for nothing. The big question will be how much Murray’s situation affects the organization’s thinking on this topic.
Whatever happens with Ingram, the Pelicans will prioritize making a move to duck below the luxury-tax threshold. As of now, New Orleans is $1.4 million over the luxury-tax line. Pelicans ownership will not want to pay the tax for the first time in franchise history for a team that is 14th in the Western Conference.
Considering how complex Ingram trade negotiations have been, New Orleans could make a smaller deal that would push it below the tax line, but perhaps the Murray injury provides added motivation to truly shake up the roster.
Suddenly, the pressure goes up for the Pelicans to make some major decisions about the future with only a few days to determine the correct path forward, as they know they won’t see the potential projected core of Zion Williamson, Murray, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones — at least at full health — for a long while.
Read more about Murray’s injury here.
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Dejounte Murray sustains season-ending Achilles tendon tear in loss vs. Celtics: Source
