NBA Trade Idea Sends Pelicans' Trey Murphy III to Pacers

A blockbuster NBA trade idea sending Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Indiana Pacers has been created. 

Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star proposed the following trade between the Pacers and Pelicans: 

Pacers get: Trey Murphy III

Pelicans get: Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Pacers’ first-round picks in 2028, 2030, 2032

Murphy III is one of the best two-way forwards in the NBA. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Pelicans this season while shooting 47.0% from the field, 37.9% from beyond the arc and 88.6% from the free-throw line. The 25-year-old would be a terrific fit next to Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana. 

The Pacers have been linked to Murphy III in the past. Maybe Indiana president Kevin Pritchard attempts to trade for the Pelicans swingman this summer after losing his 2026 first-round pick. 

Murphy III will make $27 million next season. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. The North Carolina native has career averages of 15.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He's a three-level scorer who can defend positions 1-4 and has one of the prettiest jumpers in the league. 

Haliburton didn't play for the Pacers this season because of the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without their best player, Indiana won only 19 games.

The Pacers should be a playoff team again next season since Haliburton will be back in the lineup. Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers at this year's trade deadline. Zubac, Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will be the Pacers' "Big 3" next season.

If Indiana trades for Murphy III, the team could return to the NBA Finals next season. A starting lineup of Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Murphy III, Siakam and Zubac looks very, very dangerous on paper. 

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