1 deal the Pistons must make during the 2025-26 NBA trade season

To the surprise of many, Detroit Pistons they sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. This comes just two years after they tied the score record for consecutive losses. The Pistons have the talent to make the NBA Finals, and if there’s one year to go all in, it’s this year. Injuries are keeping some of the Eastern Conference’s potential top teams from competing. The Pistons still have some young resources and future draft picks they can trade to add a piece that can help. The player they should be gunning for is Trey Murphy. So what would trade with New Orleans Pelicans look?

The Pistons should trade for Trey Murphy

Clips get: Trey Murphy

Pelicans get: Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, two first round picks

The Pistons have great youth depth, but the roster is mostly filled with slashers and interior players. Outside shooting is still their biggest weakness. The team didn’t turn the corner from bottom dwellers to playoff contenders last year until Malik Beasley was added. Beasley is an elite 3-point shooter who regularly tops 40% from deep despite being among the league leaders in 3-point attempts.

A gambling investigation led to the Pistons not bringing Beasley back for this season, but they found a solid replacement for that sniper role in Duncan Robinson. Aside from Robinson, the team is lacking in the 3-point shooting department. They are average in 3 point efficiency (35.6%), but they hardly pick up shots from deep. The Pistons rank 28th with just 31.7 3-point attempts per game.

Cade Cunningham is one of the the best players in the NBAbut it is best when going downhill. Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and Jalen Duran can all be considered non-shooters, and neither Tobias Harris nor Jaden Ivey have particularly elite efficiency from deep. Murphy, meanwhile, is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. He’s topped the 40% mark before, and topped 20 points while making seven-plus 3-pointers in each of the last two seasons.

However, Murphy is more than a sniper. He can play lock-down defense and his athleticism is on display in the dunk contest. Murphy would be more than worth the package Detroit would have to give up here. They’ve made high enough draft picks in recent years that they could afford to give up several first-rounders. Also, Caris LeVert hasn’t been great for the team since he was added in the offseason, and while Ron Holland has potential, he’s a questionable fit for a team that doesn’t have a shot.

Are the Pelicans destined to blow it?

The Pelicans starters have been pretty good. Jeremiah Fears and Derrick Queen look like legitimate building blocks. Unfortunately, the Pelicans gave up an unprotected first-round pick in 2026 to acquire the latter. The Pelicans are 5-22 and in last place in the Western Conference, so the Atlanta Hawks pick could end up near or at the top of the draft.

Therefore, the Pelicans aren’t exactly in a position to go down, but they’re still bad enough that acquiring assets for the future makes sense. Zion Williamson may be the player they should be looking to trade the most. The former No. 1 overall pick’s injury woes aren’t over this year, and it may finally be time for New Orleans to cut its losses.

Murphy is only 25 years old, so the Pelicans should hang onto him. However, if a full rebuild is launched or Williamson is traded, Murphy could be next. In this trade, the Pelicans would add two first-round picks and a recent first-rounder in Holland. Those are some solid pieces to add to a young core.

However, the Pistons should hold out for more or just keep Murphy entirely. Desmond Bain was traded in the offseason for four first-rounders and some for a team desperate for 3-point shooting. The Pelicans should only look to trade Murphy if they were offered a similar trade that they simply couldn’t refuse.