New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III could be the missing piece for the Philadelphia 76ers, offering elite shooting gravity and defensive length to complement the team.
The Philadelphia 76ers have spent years searching for the right kind of wing.
Not just a scorer. Not just a shooter. Not just a defender. They need someone who can fit into multiple roster builds, play with or without the ball, space the floor, defend his position, and give the offense a little more athleticism without needing everything designed around him.
That is why the idea of Trey Murphy III landing in Philadelphia is so appealing.
The Sixer Sense recently urged the 76ers to explore a trade for Murphy if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to shift directions. The logic is clear. If New Orleans moves Murphy, it would likely signal something close to a reset. A 25-year-old wing averaging over 20 points per game on a long-term contract is not the kind of player a team moves lightly. If the Pelicans actually entertained offers, there would be a long list of interested teams.
Next to Tyrese Maxey, Murphy would give Philadelphia a big wing who can run the floor, space beyond the arc, and keep defenses from loading up on Maxey’s drives. Next to VJ Edgecombe, he would add even more athleticism and transition pressure. Next to Joel Embiid, if the Sixers keep building around him, Murphy would provide the kind of shooting gravity and off-ball movement that makes double teaming him a huge risk.
Murphy does not need the ball to matter. He can create spacing from the corners, cut behind overhelping defenders, and make quick decisions when the ball swings his way. At the same time, he has enough on-ball growth to attack a mismatch or create a shot late in the clock.
Defensively, Murphy also checks important boxes. He is not an elite stopper, but he has the size, length, and athletic tools to guard wings and hold up in playoff matchups.
The question is not whether he fits. The question is whether Philadelphia could actually win the bidding.
That is where things become complicated. If New Orleans trades Murphy, it is probably because the Pelicans want draft capital, young players, and future flexibility. The Sixers may have interest, but teams like the Boston Celtics or Detroit Pistons could be better positioned to make aggressive offers.
Detroit, in particular, makes sense as competition. The Pistons need more offense around Cade Cunningham and have young players, picks, and matching salary options that could appeal to a rebuilding team. Murphy would fit their timeline and give Cunningham the kind of offense Detroit badly needed in the playoffs.
Boston could also be dangerous depending on its offseason direction. If the Celtics look to retool, they may have pieces and picks that allow them to enter the conversation. Other teams around the league would likely see the same thing Philadelphia sees: a young, high-level wing on a long-term deal who fits almost anywhere.
Murphy would make the Sixers better immediately. He would also make their long-term roster construction cleaner. The problem is that every other smart team would see the same thing.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
