The Detroit Pistons have identified specific players to pursue in the upcoming summer trade market, and one of the earliest prominent names connected to them is Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Throughout the 2026-2026 NBA season, Murphy emerged as one of the most frequently discussed trade assets among playoff-caliber franchises. However, the New Orleans Pelicans remained resistant to parting with him.
As things currently stand, Murphy continues to be a primary objective for clubs such as the Pistons. It may require a formal trade demand from the versatile two-way player to force a move, and Detroit has recently received encouraging developments in that regard.
Detroit Pistons Receive Encouraging Update On $112 Million Trade Target
Ahead of the opening round of the 2026 NBA Draft, NBA insider Sam Amick appeared on KNBR 104.5 FM in San Francisco to discuss Murphy’s situation.
The reporter verified that the trade speculation surrounding Murphy is legitimate and that the player has made his desire to leave New Orleans evident.
“There is definitely a bunch of Trey Murphy noise,” Amick stated. “It seems pretty clear that he has also signaled a desire to play elsewhere.”
Should Murphy officially request a trade, that would likely push the Pelicans to acknowledge that it is time to move forward without him.
The Competitive Landscape For Trey Murphy
Now for the less favorable aspect: the Pistons will face substantial competition in any bidding war for Murphy.
As Amick further observed, the market is expected to be “pretty robust” with “a lot of suitors” involved.
Although the Pistons may have existing relationships within New Orleans’ front office, they should not anticipate any favorable discounts. The asking price for Murphy could escalate rapidly.
Detroit ought to remain aggressive in their pursuit regardless. The 26-year-old former 17th overall selection is coming off a productive season in which he connected on 37.9% of his three-point attempts and averaged 21.5 points per contest.
Beyond his scoring output, Murphy also contributed 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
For the 2026-2027 campaign, Murphy is set to earn a $27.0 million salary. He has three seasons remaining including the upcoming one on his four-year, $112.0 million contract.
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