The NBA rumor mill churned hard before the 2026 draft. Trey Murphy III was supposedly on the move. The Celtics were lurking. Boston had interest and the Pelicans had a player who just put up career highs across the board. It made sense on paper. But draft night came and went without a single Murphy trade. New Orleans made one pick — SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr. at No. 58 — and that was it.
Now the noise has shifted. According to Marc Stein, the Pelicans are still taking calls on Murphy. They’re just not taking any of the deals. Stein wrote that Boston keeps coming up as a potential suitor, but sources he’s talked to say the narrative that New Orleans is actively shopping Murphy or Herb Jones has been overstated. “Willing to listen to offers for their two in-demand swingmen? True. Turning down all those offers to date? Also true,” Stein reported.
That’s a blunt reality check for any team hoping to pry Murphy loose. The Pelicans wanted to move into the top 10 of the draft, but they weren’t going to do it by giving up Murphy or Jones unless the return included multiple future first-round picks. Apparently that offer never materialized.
The Price Tag That Kept Murphy in New Orleans
New Orleans didn’t get the kind of package they were hoping for. That’s the simplest explanation for why Murphy is still a Pelican. Stein confirmed the team was chasing a top-10 pick but wouldn’t part with either wing without a multi-pick haul coming back. When no one met that ask, the front office stood pat.
It makes sense from their side. Murphy just finished his fifth season and it was easily his best. The 26-year-old averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 47 percent from the floor and nearly 38 percent from three. That kind of production on a team-friendly deal — he’s still on his rookie extension — is exactly the kind of asset you don’t give away cheap.
Celtics Wild Card: Jaylen Brown Rumors Won’t Die
Boston hasn’t gone away as a potential suitor. The Celtics are reportedly shopping Jaylen Brown this offseason, which means they could be looking to reshuffle the roster. If they’re serious about moving Brown, a package for Murphy could make sense. But the Pelicans aren’t budging. Not yet anyway.
One team’s refusal to negotiate is another team’s waiting game. The Celtics might circle back. A desperate offer could emerge closer to the trade deadline. For now though, Murphy stays in New Orleans. And the Pelicans are fine with that.
Leave a Comment