NBA Trade Talk: Detroit Pistons Interest In Trey Murphy III Heating Up

During the Trade Deadline several months ago, the Detroit Pistons were expected to potentially take a big swing at an impact secondary scorer who could take the perimeter pressure off Cade Cunningham in the playoffs. What they ended up with was a Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter exchange that also sent the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first round pick to the Motor City in exchange for the Pistons’ own, more valuable selection. 

Ultimately, Huerter contributed to Detroit's second unit while Ivey battled injury before parting ways with the Chicago Bulls, so the Pistons seemed to end up on the better side of that trade. But thinking back to that early-February period, Detroit was also linked to New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III through trade talks, although no deal ever materialized between the two sides. 

But now that the 2026 offseason has arrived, Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon has even more postseason information to crunch when processing what changes need to be made in order to advance past the second round next year. On the surface, Detroit needs to reach an agreement with Jalen Duren during the summer, but Tobias Harris is also a free agent, which means that the Pistons need to identify their power forward of the future sooner rather than later. 

That’s where Murphy reenters the picture for the Pistons as a high-ceiling, sharp-shooting, dynamic forward who could provide Detroit with a long-term answer at power forward for years to come. According to recent reports from Marc Stein, the Pistons are known to have legitimate interest in the 6-8 forward out of Virginia after his 20-point season last year, and the Pelicans have finally reached a point where the organization is willing to listen to offers for the young, high-ceiling player. 

During his fifth season in the 2025-26 campaign, Murphy averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game for the Pels, but New Orleans could not turn that production into a playoff run even though he’s surrounded by other talented, young players. The Pistons, on the other hand, won 60 games in the regular season en route to seizing the Eastern Conference’s top seed before their two-round postseason push, but Detroit was sorely lacking another career 38% three-point shooter like Murphy to utilize on the perimeter. 

From a stylistic standpoint, Murphy has the offensive tools to provide the Pistons with consistent scoring at a position they’ve only been receiving roughly 13 points per game from Harris over the past two seasons. As a defender, Murphy contributed 1.5 steals each night last season, so he’s no slouch on that end either given his length, active hands and timing. Murphy can guard players on the perimeter or closer to the bucket in the low post, so his optionality would be another asset that Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff would embrace if Detroit can land the talented wing. 

Now, the Pistons are expected to bring Harris back on a new contract, so Detroit will continue to have a bit of depth in the frontcourt regardless, but players like Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland or Caris LeVert are potential trade pieces that could head in New Orleans’ direction to get the deal done. 

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