With reports coming out of New Orleans that no player on the roster is off limits under the new front office, speculation and rumor mongering have naturally started to run wild. Initial thoughts flooded to Zion Williamson about what this means for his future, but the Pelicans’ most intriguing and even valuable player may actually be Trey Murphy III.
There has been no clear indication that Murphy, or any player specifically, is on the trading block. Still, with a new regime arriving in NOLA, anything is on the table for a team that just went 21-61 in the regular season.
Nuggets listed as betting favorites to land Murphy
Adding some fuel to the fire, according to Bovada Sportsbook, the Denver Nuggets have the best odds to be Murphy’s next team if he’s traded at +500. The Pacers and Spurs are both listed at +700, the Pistons are at +750, the Clippers are +800, the Lakers are +850, and the Heat have +900 odds.
Ultimately, these are just betting odds, not actual reporting or sourcing, but it’s still fascinating as the Nuggets have very little in the way of future assets, and Murphy would likely cost a pretty penny. Denver would likely have to empty the (already limited) war chest and throw in one of their top players, likely either Jamal Murray or Christian Braun, and even that may not be enough.
Nuggets very unlikely to land Murphy
Since seeing the Luka Doncic trade, it’s hard to rule out anything, but we have to be somewhat realistic here. If the Pelicans are going to entertain the idea of trading their budding young superstar on a value contract, they are either doing so for a legitimate star upgrade or a haul of draft picks and prospects.
Frankly, Denver has neither at the moment. They can only offer one far-out first-round draft pick and swaps, while none of the youngsters on rookie contracts have much value, and none of the starters (other than Jokic, obviously) make any sense for this Pelicans team.
Next season, Murphy begins the first season of his four-year, $112 million contract, which is an absolute bargain for the player Murphy has become at just age 24. He’s already a great young player at a premier position with his 6’8” frame on the wing. I see no reason why New Orleans would want to trade him, and if they do, it’ll almost certainly be for more than the Nuggets can offer.
Murphy would be perfect fit in Denver
While this trade seems extremely unlikely, the speculation makes sense because Murphy would be amazing in Denver. He’s a big wing with a great shot and an improving handle. Last season, in his fourth year with the Pels, Murphy took a major leap, averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting over 36% on over 8 attempts per game from three-point range.
It was a major leap in volume for Murphy, but he proved he can be much more than a shooter. With his combination of size and skill, he has legitimate star potential while still being years away from a finished product. He’d be a perfect fit as basically an enhanced version of MPJ on offense, while providing credible wing defense as well.
Again, it makes no sense for the Pelicans to deal Murphy, but if there is any hope of a deal getting done, the Nuggets should get their way into the conversation immediately.