New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has at all times had a novel relationship with Dejounte Murray. Though they had been by no means on the identical group, they had been nonetheless texting one another on September 19.
It was each their birthdays and so they had been sending one another good needs.
“We have been texting one another ‘Completely satisfied Birthday’ for about seven years,” McCollum mentioned, by way of Christian Clark of NOLA.com.
Just some weeks in the past, they turned 33 and 28, respectively, however had been capable of trade jokes in individual.
That is as a result of the 2 are actually teammates after the Pelicans acquired Murray from Atlanta Falcons in a blockbuster commerce over the summer season.
The proficient backcourt duo will share the court docket collectively for a lot of the upcoming season. Head coach Willie Inexperienced hasn’t decided what’s its beginning composition can be, however he is enthusiastic about what his guards will deliver to the combo.
Throughout his tenure in New Orleans, McCollum crammed a number of roles on the group. He has been the first ball handler at occasions, however that will not be obligatory with Murray within the combine.
The veteran will play extra off-ball, which is a job he thrives in. A official scorer at three ranges, McCollum will profit from having a participant of Murray’s caliber within the lineup.
“I feel the great thing about it’s that each of these guys, over the course of their careers, have performed in opposition to different level guards or scorers,” Inexperienced mentioned. “Dejounte did it early in San Antonio. He additionally did it in Atlanta. CJ, for nearly his whole profession, was with Damian Lillard. These guys are interchangeable. They’ll alter on the fly. I feel that poses an issue for us for different groups.
A flexible duo, every of them is able to enjoying with or with out the ball.
Murray spent a variety of day without work the ball with the Hawks, enjoying alongside Trae Younger, who dealt with the ball the vast majority of the time he was on the court docket. This helped spherical out his ability set, however with the Pelicans he can be in some extent guard function.
That is an space he excelled in earlier than touchdown in Atlanta, as he averaged 9.2 assists per sport in his last season with the group. San Antonio Spurs. It will likely be potential to goal for a double-digit rating given the expertise presently surrounding him in New Orleans.
“Any level guard on this league will let you know they’d like to be in that place, with the expertise round it,” Murray mentioned. “For me, I am right here to make their job simpler. But additionally, they will push me to be who I’m. Personally, it is a blessing to have this expertise round me. I wish to ensure that in fact , they do not need to work too onerous for baskets.
Who begins alongside Murray can be a storyline value following all through coaching camp. So long as he stays on the group, Brandon Ingram will fill a kind of spots with Zion Williamson.
There are a lot of individuals who imagine that Trey Murphy deserves a beginning spot, however his standing for opening evening is unsure after it was revealed he injured his hamstring throughout follow this week.
This might open the door for McCollum to remain within the combine, nevertheless it’s onerous to think about Herbert Jones being moved to the second unit after being a starter for just about his whole NBA profession.
