The case of Dejounte Murray is an interesting one. The Raptors’ fanbase seems captivated on two things right now, as the team is experiencing a slump with both Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes out: a new centre, and a new point guard. It seems that one way or another, the people want change. But is Dejounte Murray the right player to bring it?
Frankly, I don’t think so.
Murray’s history speaks for itself. A defensively minded point guard who could score and facilitate, he was a big part of those pre-Alien
San Antonio Spurs teams, before ending up on the New Orleans Pelicans in a mire of injury troubles. For the past few years, Murray has had few opportunities to play basketball, at all, and when he’s been on the court, he’s not been All-Star he once was.
His contract, for a Raptors team that is currently struggling financially, is a breath of fresh air. Making just over $32 million this season, Murray becomes an unrestricted free-agent at the end of the 2027-28 campaign, meaning that he could either be traded, released, or re-signed for a more team-friendly contract, alleviating the Raptors’ financial pressures.
Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors’ starter at the one, is making $32.5 million until the 2028-29 season, so it would be easy to make the money, and the position, work for the Raptors. Moving off Quickley could allow for Jamal Shead to firmly step into the starting lineup as a pass-first point guard as opposed to Quickley’s place as a floor-spacing combo guard, who perhaps plays more naturally at the two. And, if they were to keep Murray, the Raptors would have the flexibility to make big moves and engender what would perhaps be a more stable situation, while retaining the services of a former All-Star. But, is Murray really an upgrade over IQ?
I’d say, no way.
Many complaints have been made about Quickley, but he is also a bonafide volume shooter, something the Raptors desperately need as a part of their offensive schemes. Murray is many things, but he hasn’t taken six or more threes per game since 2024. And while Quick is far from an iron man, he played 70 regular season games last year. Again, Murray hasn’t done that since… 2024.
On a team with Kawhi Leonard and Jakob Poeltl, there is no sense in getting a third injury-prone starter on the squad, unless the front office is actively trying to tank. And if Murray ends up injured again for the third season in a row, there’s no saying what value he’d bring on the trade market. Betting on one players’ health is one thing, and betting on that of two is a stretch. But three is just ludicrous, and if you saw your buddy gambling that magnitude in a casino, you’d haul him out of there.
Beyond the on-court realities, Dejounte Murray is someone who actively disrespected Jamal Shead last season, someone who is an increasingly important part of this Raptors’ team. That situation, where Murray dropped Shead and got up in his face after hitting the shot, was ugly as sin. Immanuel Quickley ran up to Murray to stick up for his teammate, and the whole thing just puts a bad taste in my mouth regarding what a trade for the point guard would look like.
Frankly, I’m all for aggressiveness and competitiveness, but considering that Murray and Shead didn’t have any sort of known rivalry, this move was just disrespectful. Bringing that energy into the Raps’ locker room doesn’t seem to be the right move when this team’s success seems so heavily predicated on good chemistry.
The reality for the Raptors is that unless their starters’ health and production stay unrealistically consistent, they may very well have to make a trade to get this team looking right in the postseason. But, there’s no sense in making moves, just for the sake of making moves.
Trying to clear cap space is likely going to be a need, but doing that without a clear plan is not worth it, especially if it results in sacrificing one of Toronto’s best options for floor spacing, which its starting lineup already struggles with. Clearly, based on this summer, the front office is willing and able to wait for good deals to come by, and there are very few worlds in which a deal for Dejounte Murray is a good one for Toronto.
