While the 2026 NBA Draft kicks off tonight, there are also plenty of trade rumors flying around as some NBA players look to change teams.
One such player is Trey Murphy III, who is currently on the New Orleans Pelicans’ roster on a four-year, $ 112 million contract.
Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III Wants Change of Scenery in NBA
Murphy has apparently been letting people know that he wants out of New Orleans, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
“There is definitely a bunch of Trey Murphy noise,” Amick said. “It seems pretty clear that he has also signaled a desire to play elsewhere. The market is going to be pretty robust…[The] Brooklyn [Nets] and the [Los Angeles] Clippers were mentioned as teams that were out front in that race, but I think the list is very long.
“I think that Detroit comes to mind. [With] Boston, actually, Trey is seen as a potential plan B for them if they miss out on Giannis (Antetokounmpo, who was traded to the Miami Heat on Monday night), which they obviously did. So, Trey is going to have a lot of suitors, and I think that could be a draft-night deal.”
Murphy will earn a base salary of $27,000,000 for next season. In addition to the teams that Amick mentioned, the Golden State Warriors have also been asking about Murphy’s availability, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
“Golden State has also been one of many interested suitors in New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, and the two teams have discussed concepts involving the No. 11 pick, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. “As previously reported by HoopsHype, the Pelicans have searched for a trade into the lottery and are targeting a player. Nate Ament has been mentioned as one potential candidate for the Pelicans.”
The Detroit Pistons have also shown interest in acquiring Murphy in a trade. In 66 games during the 2025-26 NBA season, Murphy averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Pelicans.
The Pistons make sense on paper. Detroit is a team with championship aspirations after back-to-back playoff appearances, and Murphy’s shooting and off-ball movement would give Cade Cunningham a legitimate three-and-D wing to operate alongside.
Murphy shot 37.9% from three on 8.6 attempts per game in 2025-26, making him one of the most efficient volume shooters available on the trade market.
Muprhy is still just 26 years old, so his prime years are likely still ahead of him. Expect plenty of suitors to emerge if the Pelicans truly decide to move on from him before, during, or after the 2026 NBA Draft.
