The New Orleans Pelicans hold a valuable wing. Discover why acquiring a "Desmond Bane type" package might still not be enough to justify a Trey Murphy III trade.
The New Orleans Pelicans do not need to trade Trey Murphy. He is on a team-friendly deal for the next 3.5 years and is a perfect pairing with Derik Queen.
If the Pelicans were to ever trade him, it should be for no less than a king’s ransom. New Orleans has shown no desire to move him, so fans can relax for now.
Still, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has done some reporting on what his trade value might be if a team wants the wing. Fischer says that the Pelicans would “want a Desmond Bane type of package” in a Murphy trade.
That would at least put an end to any speculation of a Golden State Warriors deal revolved around Jonathan Kuminga, which never felt real in the first place.
The Memphis Grizzlies received the following from the Orlando Magic for Bane: Cole Anthony (salary filler), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (salary filler), four unprotected first-round picks and a 2029 pick swap.
That’s a lot, but Bane was heading into his age 27 season and averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a steal on 47.2/41/88.3 shooting splits.
He had also signed a five-year, $197.2 million deal the season before. He was already paid and viewed as the final piece to the puzzle for the Magic to become true contenders.
Murphy isn’t exactly the same player and story, but any team trading for him would be hoping for the same result. He is someone that any contending team would love to have.
The 25-year-old has taken his game up a notch since the start of last season. He’s averaged 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals on 46.8/36.3/89.5 splits.
He is in the first season of a four-year, $112 million extension, which is far friendlier than the contract that Bane has.
It certainly isn’t insane to think that New Orleans would only budge for a deal as big as the Grizzlies got for Bane.
The only problem is, it doesn’t make too much sense for the Pelicans to do even if they do get that offer.
That’s the type of deal that a team makes if they are blowing everything up
down to the studs to go in a new direction.
If this year has shown anything to the New Orleans front office, it is that they have already found their next centerpiece in Queen.
That’s a player that is almost 21 and can already run an NBA offense as the fulcrum. Every move they make should be to complement his game.
Murphy is the type of player that teams spend years and countless picks to find. He’s a wing that can shoot, create his own shot when he needs and works off ball. His chemistry with Queen is already high.
At 25, Murphy is also young enough to fit in to a competitive timeline with Queen.
The Pelicans should just call a win a win and continue building around these pieces. It also seems like that is their plan.