Ranking the top 5 trade destinations for Trey Murphy III if the Pelicans change their minds

The The New Orleans Pelicans may have picked one of their worst years it is possible to have a bad season. After all, they parted with their unprotected first-round pick in the deal that landed them Derrick Quinn on draft night, which will force them to pass up prospects like Darin Peterson, AJ Dibantsa and Cameron Boozer, to name a few, all of whom have scouts salivating.

They are currently 12-36, and conventional wisdom suggests that any bottom-of-the-table team will be more inclined to sell their best players. But Pelicans have no such intentions. In fact, reports have indicated that New Orleans will retain such Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, among others, past the trade deadline.

The The Pelicans hope they can turn things around quickly in the coming seasons, hence their persistence to keep Murphy. Murphy would fetch them such a huge return in the trade market, especially when he is under contract for three more seasons after this current campaign on such an affordable and team-friendly deal.

Things can change quickly in the NBA; trades can materialize out of nowhere, similar to how the Los Angeles Lakers surprised the world by trading for Luka Doncic.

This just means that however The Pelicans would like to keep MurphyGrandpa’s offer may be able to change his mind. In that case, here are the teams that make the most sense for the 25-year-old winger.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

If there’s a team that could benefit so much from a major upgrade on the wing, it’s the Los Angeles Lakers. Acquiring a big man may be a more pressing issue given that Deandre Ayton struggled and he’s done nothing to convince anyone of late that he’s the team’s long-term five-man solution. But getting someone as good as Murphy would open up so much for this Lakers team.

With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James taking turns handling the rock, an off-ball shooter as skilled as Murphy would celebrate for the Lakers. He’s like a supercharged version of Rui Hachimura, a more efficient shooter, a bolder sniper and a better perimeter defender.

Murphy doesn’t need the ball too much; in fact 76.6 percent of his field goals this season have been assisted. But he’s not just an off-ball shooter. He can attack aggressively and create rebounds in the small, and he would elevate the Lakers’ offense even more.

Alas, the Lakers don’t have the wherewithal to land Murphy, especially not at the price the Pelicans have set – making this nothing more than a pipe dream.

4. Golden State Warriors

Earlier in the season, the Warriors were at the center of rumors regarding a potential emergency trade to bring in someone like Murphy from the Pelicans with a package around Jonathan Cumminga. Golden State has future first-round picks to swing a potential trade if they so choose.

However, Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL changes things for the Warriors. If they were to reopen their window for title contention, they need a legitimate ball-handling superstar on the wing to complement Stephen Curry. This is it not to say that Murphy wouldn’t help the Warriors; his scoring efficiency and ability to find space off the ball means he fits perfectly into the team’s attack.

But Butler’s injury has created a ball-handling, playmaking and scoring void that Murphy may not be able to fill. And given that the Warriors have limited assets, they would want to go all-in on a superstar who can take the burden of creating shots off Curry’s shoulders.

The The Warriors are still dreaming of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo or a star of similar caliber. Murphy should be lower on their priority list these days, as they are no longer in a position where they need just one more piece to get over the hump the way they were before Butler’s injury.

3. Portland Trail Blazers

The The Blazers were rumored to be interested to New York Knicks wing Mikal Bridges, acting as a third team to facilitate a potential Antetokounmpo trade involving the Knicks. Mostovi, however, has been up and down, and he has not been quite himself lately. He seems to be the type of player who fits more into a struggling ensemble than the definitive piece to get a team over the hump.

What the Blazers need is a more explosive scorer, and Murphy fits the bill. Even on an inconsistent Pelicans team with so much attention on the defensive end, Murphy is putting up over 22 points a game on 49/38/90 shooting. On a team with more offensive talent around him, especially with Danny Awdia and Jerami Grant firing on all cylinders, Murphy could reach an even higher level, scoring.

Considering the Blazers still have some remaining assets from the Bucks thanks to the Damian Lillard trade, the Blazers also have the funds to make such a trade. They can bundle the salaries of expiring Robert Williams III and Mathis Thiboul or swing with Scoot Henderson as a young prospect who could convince the Pelicans to pull the trigger on a Murphy trade while adding multiple firsts in each trade package.

The Blazers they have 22nd place offense in the NBA, and bringing in Murphy would help address their biggest weakness.

2. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are another team that has been featured in trade rumors for every potential star or fringe All-Star available on the market. Apparently they kicked the tires on the idea trading for Anthony Davis or Domantas Sabonis. And they were associated with someone like Ja Morant.

Why not expand your search to someone like Murphy?

The The Raptors already have a deep core at wingwith Brandon Ingram, Scotty Barnes and RJ Barrett leading the way. But there is always room for improvement. Murphy would be an upgrade over someone like Barrett, especially. He’s a more efficient scorer who doesn’t need the ball much, freeing up more touches for Ingram, Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, and having him be a threat on the perimeter would open up so much space for the team.

Murphy’s disruptiveness on the defensive end (1.6 steals per game this season) also makes him an incredible fit for a Raptors team that likes to force turnovers so they can get out in transition.

1. Detroit Pistons

All reports point to the Pistons playing the long game, choosing to go the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs route to build the roster instead of more aggressively pushing their chips into the middle of the standings.

But Clips must know that opposing windows are not taken for granted. An injury (hitting a tree) can set back a franchise for years. Detroit will also have to pay its key young guys in the near future.

Something has to give, and with the Pistons set to struggle for the foreseeable future anyway behind their core led by Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Duren, now might be the time to swing a big trade — especially with the title race wide open.

The Thunder have been shaky lately. The Spurs may need a year or two to prepare for some playoff bloodshed. And every team in the Eastern Conference looks up to them. Murphy could be the piece that takes the Pistons from just good to great at the championship level. They also have the assets to sell to the Pelicans, making this the perfect destination for the rising 25-year-old wing.