BOSTON — The NBA offseason has arrived with a vengeance. Following a grueling playoff run, front offices are auditing their rosters to find the missing pieces that guarantee a deeper postseason run next spring. With trade speculation reaching a fever pitch, elite title contenders like the Celtics and Thunder set to battle for a franchise-altering piece, causing a massive wave of Trey Murphy III trade rumors to dominate the early summer storyline.
Celtics And Thunder Set To Battle For $112 Million Wing
According to NBA insider Bill Simmons, the trade market is heating up around New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III. With the Pelicans potentially shifting gears under Joe Dumars, league insiders view the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder as the two premier suitors equipped to pull off a blockbuster deal over the next three weeks.
Boston and OKC are potential landing spots for Trey Murphy III, per @BillSimmons
“We assume he’s probably going to get traded over the next three weeks. I think Boston is a possibility. We thought whoever lost this matchup (Spurs and Thunder) is a possibility. You have two to… pic.twitter.com/MMU3WhC8FD
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 31, 2026
Boston’s Hunt for Wing Depth and Shooting Relief
Despite another All-Defensive selection, Derrick White’s perimeter struggles exposed Boston’s need for shooting and length at the guard position. White put up a strong 16.5 points, 5.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, but his efficiency from deep plummeted to a difficult 32.7%.
Trey Murphy III provides the ultimate shooting solution. During the regular season, Murphy averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. His perimeter volume is elite, posting a massive 54.1% three-point rate—meaning over half his shots came from deep—while converting 37.9% of those looks.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Murphy’s on/off metrics highlight his immense structural value. When Murphy was on the floor, the Pelicans’ offensive efficiency skyrocketed by a net +6.2 points per 100 possessions, landing him in the 84th percentile league-wide.
Will the New 3-2-1 Lottery Force Joe Dumars’ Hand?
The biggest roadblock to actualizing these Trey Murphy III trade rumors is the Pelicans’ front office. Since Joe Dumars took over basketball operations, New Orleans has been famously rigid. In fact, Dumars remarkably facilitated only one trade during the entire regular season despite a brief flurry of trades in the summer.
This total gridlock followed his reckless 2025 draft-day gamble, where he moved up to select big man Derik Queen, surrendering future assets that ultimately conveyed as the 8th overall pick in a loaded draft class. Now, with the introduction of the NBA’s new 3-2-1 lottery flattening draft odds, maybe Dumars might be open for business.
Hard Choices in Oklahoma City After Game 7 Elimination
Oklahoma City might see Trey Murphy III as a necessity. Fresh off a devastating Game 7 loss, OKC’s offense collapsed with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell sidelined due to injuries.
As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled under intense defensive pressure, only Alex Caruso rose to the postseason moment. For salary-matching purposes, Luguentz Dort appears to be the most logical trade centerpiece. Dort’s rugged perimeter defense and contract provide the perfect financial baseline to anchor a realistic package for Trey Murphy III.
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