Joe Dumars sorts through Trey Murphy III’s new offers ahead of the NBA trade deadline

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant dominate NBA trade deadline rumors, but change is brewing around Bourbon Street basketball. The The New Orleans Pelicans are not shopping Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson out of impatience or panic. They face the cold math of list building, timing and market impact. Murphy III, a 25-year-old scorer who is averaging 18.2 points on 41% 3-point shooting this season, has matured into one of the NBA’s most coveted talents.

His team contract only adds value. talented, Trey Murphy III represents the archetypal All-Star a modern wing, a player who can single-handedly lift the playoffs and solidify a place as a title contender in the conversation for years. For the Pelicans, that makes it a fan favorite and cornerstone candidate and their most compelling trade chip. With several franchises facing immediate acquisition mandates, the front office has significant leverage in a relatively tight market.

If it is Pelicans are serious about maximizing long-term flexibility, they must at least receive offers from teams chasing titles now, appease restless All-Stars, or both. The Golden State Warriors walked on thin ice to Stephen Curry’s swan song before Jimmy Butler’s injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder have property. Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs look set. Jaylen Brown’s Boston Celtics could get Jayson Tatum healthy before the NBA playoffs begin.

Even Trajan Langdon’s rookie Detroit Pistons could make a run. Ask the Indiana Pacers about taking those odds for granted. The Pelicans are years away from contention, or so other teams will tell them. Any serious offer, league sources told ClutchPoints, must start with a package of at least four exchangeable future first-round picks. A framework similar to the “Desmond Bain Package” was the starting point all along.

Pelicans tease title chasers

So with that being said, a move to Trea Murphy III is expected soon. Joe Dumars should be ready with offer lists and points of no return for any negotiations.

1. Golden State Warriors

• • Players: Jonathan Cumminga, Buddy Hield
  • Choices: 2026, 2028, 2032
  • Replacements: 2027, 2029, 2031

The Warriors may get just one more shot at a title with Stephen Curry in his prime. They can worry about depleting capital and rebuilding the roster later. Golden State lacks leverage as the league knows they are desperate to maximize Curry’s remaining championship tenure. The Warriors will want to acquire both Murphy and Herb Jones, and should be willing to part with six first-round picks (four for Murphy, two for Jones), including three unprotected picks and three trades in total. Jimmy Butler’s injury complicated their schedule. Dumars can smell blood in the water. The priority should be to create some value from a soon-to-be-rebuilt team.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

• • Players: Lou Dort/Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams
  • Choices: 2026 (via 76ers; top-4 protected), 2026 (via Clippers), 2027 (via Clippers), 2028 (via Nuggets)
  • Replacements: 2027 (via Thunder 1-10 only), 2027 (via Spurs), 2028 (via Mavericks), 2029, 2031

The Thunder need back-to-back titles more than they need multiple picks in the 2026 or 2027 NBA drafts. No one will remember the future election when the outdated banners are hung in OKC. Presti’s willingness to overpay in trades and second-rounders stems from a championship or bust mentality; the aging banners in OKC would eclipse any future draft concerns. The Pelicans should be able to get an extra pick out of this deal for Murphy. Then they could double down on getting two more for Herb Jones.

3. Detroit Pistons

• • Players: Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris
  • Choices: 2026, 2028, 2030
  • Replacements: 2027, 2029, 2031

Detroit is the most intriguing dark horse. The Pistons are opening the championship window, not closing it, which makes their calculus more delicate. Trajan Langdon knows this core may only get one shot at an NBA Finals appearance in the next five years. Why not go all-in on some of Langdon’s best wins as CEO?

Well, they are just starting to open the championship window. Any trade that drains draft capital now could hinder the process, but virtually everyone on the resulting list would have positive future value. Such lists can be modified for quick fixes on the go. That’s why Detroit will want the same deal as Golden State. The risk for Dumars is that these picks may never reach the top of the lottery if the gamble works out.

4. San Antonio Spurs

• • Players: Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan
  • Choices: 2026 (via Bulls 1-8 protected), 2026 (trade with Hawks), 2027 (via Hawks)
  • Replacements: 2028 (worst of Celtics and Spurs), 2030, 2031 (worst of Kings and Spurs), 2032

The Spurs still need to be proactive to take down the Thunder, but lack the resources or desperation. Adding more trades and picks tied to lottery teams is the only way.

Stars want Trey Murphy III

The Bucks have been trying to land Giannis Antetokounmpo for years. That led to the Jrue Holiday title and also the Damian Lillard fiasco. Trey Murphy III is more of a low-risk, high-reward gamble for anyone looking to keep the star happy.

5. Memphis Grizzlies

• • Players: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar
  • Choices: 2026 (via Suns), 2030 (via Magic), 2032
  • Replacements: 2027, 2029 (best of Magic or Grizzlies), 2031

In order to satisfy Ja Morant’s request for an upgraded roster and avoid a bust, Zach Kleiman must be brave. Get upgrades that keep the All-Stars happy or trade Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Those are the only two options, and Kleiman has plenty of freedom to take either path. Sending the entire “Desmond Bane Package” for Murphy and potentially Herb Jones is the clearest way to signal commitment. It’s also the only path likely to lead to a championship in Memphis. Anything less risks not appeasing anyone.

6. Atlanta Hawks

• • Players: Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard
  • Choices: 2026 (best of Pelicans or Bucks), 2026, 2029, 2031
  • Replacements: 2027 (via Bucks), 2028, 2030, 2032

Murphy III’s appeal here is financial and marketing as much as basketball. He delivers near-All-Star production without the cap distortion that usually accompanies it. For a Hawks team desperate to re-enter the contending conversation after the Tree Young era, that’s important. GM Bryson Graham (formerly with the Pelicans) can completely reshuffle the decks with another big, well-informed move.

Jalen Johnson’s Hawks need at least one more All-Star-caliber talent to compete over the next two seasons. No one will get the salary cap as cheaply as Murphy III. The most contentious point would be the selection of the 2026 election to New Orleans; The Pelicans would like it back, and the Hawks would resist.

7. Toronto Raptors

• • Players: RJ Barrett
  • Choices: 2026, 2028
  • Replacements: 2027, 2029, 2031

Toronto’s offering is cleaner than convincing. RJ Barrett is still young enough to realize most of the high draft potential. The upside is for a team looking to build around Derrick Quinn and Jeremy Fears. This is a higher-risk move for the Raptors, who could fall in the first round. New Orleans is betting that Toronto will falter in the East over the next four years, potentially turning those trades into valuable selections.

8. Phoenix Suns

• • Players: Jalen Green, Royce O’Neale
  • Choices: 2026 (worst of Suns or Wizards), 2029 (worst of Suns or Rockets),
  • Replacements: 2027 (via Jazz, Cavaliers or Timberwolves), 2028 (worst of Nets, Wizards or Suns), 2030 (worst of Suns or Wizards), 2032

The Phoenix Suns could shake up the Western Conference by pairing Murphy with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. Maybe owner Matt Ishbia learned a lesson from the Kevin Durant experience. However, they fall short of Spurs in a hard-to-replace pack.

Big markets are collapsing

Fans complain that big media markets get special attention. This is not the case in these conversations. Boston Celtics, New York Knicksand the Los Angeles Lakers lack the means to be very assertive.

9. Boston Celtics

• • Players: Anfernie Simmons, Sam Hauser
  • Choices: 2026, 2032
  • Replacements: 2027, 2028 (worst of Celtics and Spurs), 2030, 2031

It’s hard to imagine the Celtics becoming a lottery team any time soon, making trades almost worthless. New Orleans has little reason to negotiate with Boston unless it firmly believes in Simmons and Hauser.

10. New York Knicks

• • Players: Michal Bridges, Mitchell Robinson
  • Choices: in 2026
  • Replacements: 2028 (worst of Nets and Knicks), 2030, 2032

The Knicks are clearly working on changing the landscape of Karl-Anthony Towns. Those conversations could add to the talent of Trey Murphy III. However, there are not many advantages here as a standalone business. Draft capital is minimal at best. Bridges and Robinson wouldn’t help the rookies and Zion Williamson out of the West Cellar.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

• • Players: Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura
  • Choices: 2027 (only 1-4), 2031
  • Replacements: 2028, 2030, 2032

The Los Angeles Lakers package doesn’t have much appeal. Austin Reeves is due for a raise soon, and Rui Hachimura is seen as a replacement-level talent on an expensive contract. The choices are not convincing enough, given Luka Doncic’s age and the fact that the market is a magnet for free agents.

As the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Pelicans must weigh whether Murphy’s value is peaking now or continuing to rise. With multiple franchises willing to stake their futures, New Orleans has leverage that few teams enjoy. The question is whether Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver will take advantage of it.