The Toronto Raptors were urged to make a move in the upcoming NBA offseason.
The Toronto Raptors could be a team to watch this offseason as they look for ways to strengthen their roster after an inconsistent second half of the season. While the team has promising young talent, another two‑way wing could help elevate Toronto back into serious playoff contention.
Toronto’s core already features versatile forward Scottie Barnes, who continues to develop into one of the franchise’s centerpiece players along with Brandon Ingram as the team’s primary scoring option. However, the team has struggled at times to close out games, particularly due to defensive lapses and a lack of consistent perimeter scoring late in contests.
Because of those issues, one NBA reporter believes the Raptors should target an elite “three‑and‑D” player this summer. Eric Koreen of The Athletic pointed to a potential trade target on Tuesday from the New Orleans Pelicans who could fit perfectly alongside Barnes and Ingram.
“Trey Murphy III remains my favourite potential target for the Raptors. I am skeptical the Pelicans would trade him, since he is 25 and on a team‑friendly deal (three years and $81 million remain after this season). But since the Pelicans will have their own pick next year, maybe they will be more open to trading veterans in future‑minded deals,” Koreen wrote.
The player Koreen referenced, Trey Murphy, has quietly developed into one of the league’s most valuable two‑way wings. Known for his combination of perimeter shooting, length and defensive versatility, Murphy would address multiple needs for Toronto.
Murphy is in his fifth season with New Orleans after being selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. This year has been one of the most productive campaigns of his career as he continues to expand his offensive game while maintaining strong defensive contributions.
Throughout 57 games, Murphy has averaged 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals. His efficiency has remained strong as well, shooting 47.3% from the field and 38.5% from 3‑point range.
Those numbers highlight exactly why he would be such an intriguing addition for Toronto. The Raptors have struggled at times to find reliable perimeter scoring when defenses collapse on Barnes or other primary ball handlers. Murphy’s ability to space the floor and knock down 3‑pointers would immediately help solve that issue.
Defensively, the potential pairing of Murphy and Barnes could also give Toronto one of the more versatile wing duos in the league.
Of course, whether such a trade is realistic remains uncertain. New Orleans values Murphy highly, and his team‑friendly contract only increases his importance to the Pelicans long‑term plans as Koreen mentions.
Still, if Toronto explores the trade market this offseason, Murphy could be one of the most impactful targets available to help the Raptors address their biggest weaknesses.