The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly been receiving calls about both Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones Jr. ahead of the 2026 NBA draft.
The entire league knows the New Orleans Pelicans want to get back into the first round of the draft, and are now using that knowledge to potentially pry away one of the stars they have been so wary about trading.
Trey Murphy and Herb Jones now come into focus as the two most likely pieces to be used to get back into that first round. They are the two players with the highest value on the team who could also realistically get moved. Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are the two people for sure not going anywhere.
Locked On Pelicans host Jake Madison reported on Sunday that he had heard Murphy's name come up in talks with the Atlanta Hawks and the No. 8 selection. ESPN insider Shams Charania also got in on the action by adding that he has heard both players have "gotten a lot of interest on the marketplace."
Teams had also been putting together draft pick-focused packages for the two players at the last trade deadline, but New Orleans was always quick to rebuff them. Now, it seems like conversations are getting a bit more serious.
Given how antsy the Pelicans got last draft in the search to get the player that they wanted in Queen, and how much they ended up trading to pull it off, it's no surprise that they are more open to listen to offers just about 24 hours out from the draft beginning.
While players like Murphy and Jones are fan-favorites, and could certainly be a part of winning basketball in New Orleans, it's important to note that they aren't guys that this front office brought in.
Troy Weaver is a talent evaluator and will want to rebuild this roster into his vision, even if it isn't a complete rebuild. If he sees a player he wants, and believes will turn this roster into a competitive team in the future, then he will be willing to get Joe Dumars to move some of these other players.
Murphy, who just turned 26 a couple of days ago, is coming off a career year that saw him put up 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per night last season on 47.0/37.9/88.6 shooting splits. He should be able to demand a sizable trade package.
Jones is one of the best defensive talents in the league. He might not have the offensive skills, but is at least a streaky three-point shooter and does his best to win his minutes. It isn't far fetched to imagine he could net the team a first-round pick.
