Rockets add Jamal Murray

[KW]

At long last, the Houston Rockets completed a trade sending 3&D big man Eric Mika, along with Reid Travis and Draymond Green, to the Indiana Pacers for veteran scoring guard Jamal Murray. This deal took several tries to get right, but in the end, all parties got what they wanted.

Murray will provide instant offense for the Rockets, from off the bench, a role he hasn't played in eleven years. Murray, in the midst of his 5th season with the Pacers, is averaging 17.0 points per game, a higher average than any current Rockets player, who, at 19-10, are thriving with an extremely well-rounded offensive attack.

The Rockets, who currently boast seven players averaging north of 10 points a game (Walker, Gates, Reddish, Gant, Lawson all between 12.0 and 16.3, Lofton and Knight splitting time between the main club and the D-League), as well as Mikal Bridges at 9.9. While Murray figures to be the 9th, the Rockets indicate that Jamal Murray won't be the featured scorer that he's been for most of his career in which he's scored nearly 17,000 points on roughly league-average efficiency.

"I'm at the point in my career where I will do anything it takes to win a championship", says Murray, who has 6 playoff appearances in 12 full seasons in the league, all with Detroit and Philadelphia between 2021 and 2026. "I've made deep runs before as a younger player, I've been the featured guy on a few of them. But things are different now, and I'm one of many that can score. So it's my duty to pick my spots better, find the open guy, and we'll be better for it."

Sources indicate that Murray will likely start out in a 20 to 25 minute role off the Rockets bench, largely playing the minutes that leading scorer MJ Walker doesn't. Head coach June Brewer is enamored by Murray's ability to make the smart pass to go along with his three-level scoring package. "Jamal is yet another dynamic weapon for our offense full of shooters and scorers that know how to share the ball. He's always been asked to be a 1st or 2nd option on his teams, so his passing really gets overlooked. It's an area of his game he hasn't really gotten a chance to flex since early on in his career."

With 2nd year forward Kenny Lofton in the lineup, Jamal won't be the worst defender on the Rockets, but he realizes he's the likely "weak link" otherwise, but the hardworking vet vowed, "I'll use my basketball IQ and good hands on defense any way I know how."

Murray will likely finish this season with his lowest PPG total since his rookie year in his new role, but he couldn't be happier. "I'm ready to win. That's all."

[hardenwithnod]

I was kind of surprised you went for Murray as you don’t have much front court depth. But looks like you’re going all in with this 5 out movement, so why not, as that’s a pretty cheap price for Murray.

[Silogical]

I like targeting a player that constantly under performs, in this engine you never know what a player will do on a new team.

[rh0xxy]

Like this move for you to give way for your young guns in Moneke and Lofton and at the same get some offensive punch off the bench. Murray's defense is no slouch either.

[Marcos_Beck]

Love the pickup, I told you in private. Murray is a difference maker, who has never been used correctly. Indy had no use for him, and probably no interest so getting a 2nd for him is ok.
But he's way better and way more valuable than that.

[WillyJakkz]

I always liked Murray but could never get him. That's a good pickup.

[Flaming Homer]

Yeah, he should be really dangerous in this Houston lineup! He can go off anytime.

[wms02a]

Hate this move for me, like it for you