Lakers News: West Competitor Emerges In Dejounte Murray Trade Sweepstakes

Murray could be heading to another Western Conference team by Thursday.

A new team has emerged for potential Los Angeles Lakers trade target (and current Atlanta Hawks) guard Dejounte Murray. 

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a possible suitor for Murray ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. 

Murray is considered the possible prize possession of this season’s trade deadline.

The chances of the Lakers being the team to acquire Murray now look dim. The Pelicans, on the other hand, are viewed as sleepers to land the one-time All-Star. New Orleans sits seventh in the West at 29-21 and is only half a game outside of the sixth seed. 

It's unclear whether Murray will be traded, but he isn't playing against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, and it looks a bit suspicious. A Laker-Murray combination looks like it's not in the card, but it could be in the cards for New Orleans. 

If they are able to land his talents, that could be the difference between LA finishing over the Pelicans in the Western Conference standing. We're less than 24 hours from the deadline. We'll see if Murray stands pat or heads to the opposing conference.