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The New Orleans Pelicans are having a rough year. They’re widely presumed to be motivated sellers as the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline approaches. Forward Zion Williamson is the most persistent name linked to trade rumors, but today HoopsHype writer Michael Scotto speculated that the Pelicans’ other forward, Trey Murphy III, could also be available. Scotto lists the Portland Trail Blazers among interested suitors.
Scotto shares:
With the New Orleans Pelicans struggling mightily with the league’s second-worst record and underwhelming compared to their expectations, rival executives have continued to eye one of their top players, Trey Murphy III, from afar. Though it may be wishful thinking on the part of executives around the league, let’s take a look at the current chatter.
The Golden State Warriors have been enamored with Murphy since he was eligible for the draft, league sources told HoopsHype. With that said, rival executives around the league believe the Warriors will ultimately prioritize a Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit ahead of Murphy before cashing in all their trade chips in an attempt to land the Pelican forward.
Multiple executives have also circled the Portland Trail Blazers as a potential buyer ahead of the trade deadline and among the teams that like Murphy around the league. Some executives around the league who’ve spoken with HoopsHype have also wondered aloud if it would take a package similar to the Desmond Bane trade to acquire Murphy, who’s only 25 years old and signed through the 2028-29 season.
While it’s unlikely New Orleans would part with Murphy, it won’t stop teams from inquiring leading up to the deadline in February.
Murphy is a 6’8 forward, 25 years old, in his fifth NBA season. He’s averaging 21.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 35.5 minutes per game over 25 starts for the Pelicans this year while shooting 48.9% from the floor, 36.0% from the three-point arc. Murphy is known as a “3 and D” wing. Caveat: his three-point prowess has sunk towards middling after peaking at 40.6% in his second season and his defense doesn’t get the chance to shine much on a fractured, and largely failing, Pelicans roster.
Murphy would fit Portland’s current mold of athletic, rangy, defensively-apt forwards with scoring chops. He’d also match with several wings whose long-range marksmanship is questionable. Merging into Portland’s system would be easy, but there’s hardly room for him right now with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, and Shaedon Sharpe playing the three middle positions.
Murphy just signed a four-year deal. He’s earning $25 million this season. That steps up to $31 million in 2028-29, the final year of the contract. In the new, revenue-rich NBA, those are team-friendly numbers.
The Desmond Bane trade Scotto references happened this past summer. The Memphis Grizzlies traded Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a top-two protected pick swap.
It’s worth noting that most of the players that the Blazers would be able and/or willing to send (assuming that the “juice” in the deal for the Pelicans comes from picks, not personnel) make as much as Murphy or more, and for nearly as long of a time. That pares down the possibilities. The expiring contracts of Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle would get the job done. Scoot Henderson could be thrown in there. But the Blazers probably aren’t getting out cheap with the picks under those circumstances.
Would you regard Murphy as a player the Blazers should pursue at this cost level? How many unprotected picks and/or swaps would you give up for him? Share your thoughts in the comments section!