Trey Murphy III Trade Reportedly Interests Warriors, Spurs, Pelicans Declining Calls
The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are reportedly interested in bolstering their depth on the wing by trading for Trey Murphy III but have been met with resistance from the New Orleans Pelicans.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Friday the Warriors reached out to the Pelicans about a potential trade since they "have a strong affinity for Murphy." Fischer also noted San Antonio "registered trade interest," although New Orleans has "batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly."
While he has dealt with injury problems throughout the early portion of his career, everything in New Orleans still revolves around Zion Williamson at this point as the franchise cornerstone.
Murphy is the same age as the Duke product and someone who can be a key role player around him for years to come. After all, the forward is signed through the 2028-29 season and is an ideal playing partner with Williamson because of his outside shooting.
When opposing defenses crash down on the forward in the paint, Murphy can take full advantage as a career 38.3 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He connected on 40.6 percent of his threes in 2022-23.
But that type of skill set also makes him valuable to teams such as the Warriors and Spurs who have their own gravity-creating superstars who tilt opposing defenses and create open looks on the wing for role players.
Murphy would be able to show off those shooting skills alongside Stephen Curry in Golden State or Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio.
But he is more than just a shooter and averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season. All of those marks were career-highs, indicating he is improving with more experience in the NBA after he entered the league as a first-round pick in 2017.
The Virginia product is also versatile enough to defend multiple positions on the other end of the floor, making him all the more valuable.
Yet New Orleans recognizes that value and isn't interested in trading him to fellow Western Conference squads.
