Given the Nuggets’ financial situation, lack of draft capital, and fairly stacked roster, there aren’t many feasible trade targets available that would significantly move the needle. However, one player who has been a good fit for a long time is Trey Murphy III of the Pelicans, the big wing scorer and sharpshooter.
But on Friday, Senior NBA Insider, Chris Haynes, reported that Murphy, along with Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen, will all remain with New Orleans beyond the trade deadline on February 5th.
Murphy would be the real prize of the bunch for a contending team like the Nuggets, though. Still just 25 years old, Murphy is in year one of an extremely team-friendly, four-year, $112 million contract, making just $25 million this year.
Even on a mess of a Pelicans team, Murphy has been impressive this season, averaging 21.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He’s shooting almost 50% from the field and almost 40% from three, getting up 8 attempts a night from long distance. He’s not a defensive ace by any means, but he has enough size, speed, and ability to be useful on that end as well.
Denver’s path to acquiring Murphy was always murky
Even before the reports came out that Murphy would be staying put, it never really made sense from the Pelicans’ side. Murphy is a great young player on a bargain contract. Unless they are blown away by an offer, they shouldn’t be considering moving arguably their best (non-rookie) asset.
You’d think that they wouldn’t even think about it without having multiple first-round picks and young prospects shoved in their faces, something the Nuggets really can’t offer. Even to get to the matching salary at this point, Denver would have to move either one of Jokic, Murray, or Gordon - which we can rule out - or trade Cam Johnson or Jonas Valanciunas with other, smaller salaries.
All of those options seem incredibly unlikely, as Cam and Jonas have become important parts of the team. Sure, moving Jonas for Trey would be a no-brainer, but Denver would also have to throw in Zeke Nnaji, plus about $7 million more worth of salary. And that’s just to make the money work; it’s not like the Pelicans would have any interest in adding either one of those players.
So, while Murphy would be an ideal fit with the Nuggets, it was never more than a pipe dream since the MPJ offseason trade. If anything, perhaps the idea that he’s staying put and won’t be joining another West contender is good news for Denver after all.