A Portland Trail Blazers trade looks inevitable in the offseason. They are looking to make a big splash, and that could involve getting Trey Murphy III from New Orleans. Murphy’s impact could be significant for Portland’s shooting, and it could turn them into an even more dangerous team.
Why A Trey Murphy III Trade Helps The Portland Trail Blazers
After a promising 2025-26 season, the Trail Blazers are now looking for ways to improve the team. With Deni Avdija‘s breakout and Damian Lillard‘s impending return, this team will have more star power. However, they still need to make moves that help the team progress further.
That should be done through the trade market because, unfortunately, the Blazers are not a free agent destination. One of the trades being thrown around was a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo, which is an unlikely move, opening the path for a Murphy trade to Portland.
Murphy Could Be The Positive Blazers Trade Target
In five seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Murphy has become one of their best players. He entered the league as a raw wing who only got to play sporadic minutes in his first season in the 2021-22 campaign. In the years since that rookie year, Murphy has exploded into an awesome talent.
He has always been seen as a positive on offense, as he went from averaging 5.4 points a night in his rookie year to 14.5 points per game in his sophomore season. That has continued to go up over the years, as he averaged 21.5 points in the 2025-26 season.
Multiple teams should pursue Trey Murphy III this summer, including the Blazers, Pacers, Pistons, and Warriors.
The Pelicans are expected to hold a high asking price for the versatile wing, but Murphy’s coveted two-way skill set could be worth the investment for contenders.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) May 28, 2026
Now that he has become a trade target for multiple teams, Murphy has gotten more popular among NBA teams. The Pelicans have set the price for Murphy at a high number, but a Blazers trade could still happen, especially with new owner Tom Dundon wanting to make a big splash.
While he is not on the same level of popularity as Antetokounmpo, Murphy might fit in best with the Blazers. He has the shooting, defense, and personality that would thrive in Portland. It is up to general manager Joe Cronin and the front office to come up with a good deal.
Portland’s Shooting Problems Could Finally Be Resolved
For the longest time, the Blazers’ shooting problems have continued to pop up. Even when Lillard was the star player, he and Anfernee Simons were the only big threats to score from the outside. Getting Murphy could save them because he is an elite three-point shooter.
They need more points from beyond the arc. Toumani Camara hit over 200 three-pointers in the 2025-26 season, but Camara has cold shooting spells quite often. With Murphy, they have a reliable shooter to play alongside Avdija and Lillard.
C'mon Mr. Cronin, one last swing before the deadline buzzer ⏳️
Blazers still have a trade to make pic.twitter.com/oswAG8jNCZ
— SleeperTrailBlazers (@SleeperBlazers) February 5, 2026
The fans might not love a Blazers trade for Murphy because it will likely include Shaedon Sharpe. As Portland’s most impressive athlete, Sharpe has a bright future, but it looks like Murphy is the better fit for this Blazers team. However, Scoot Henderson might also be another potential trade piece, so the Blazers will likely lose one of their young gems.
If Murphy does get traded to the Trail Blazers, they get an uptick on both ends of the floor. He is an elite shooter who has a 38.2% clip in his career while also providing high-level defense that meshes well with Avdija, Camara, and the rim protection provided by Donovan Clingan.
It Will Be Difficult To Match Murphy’s Impact
By trading for Murphy, the Blazers can finally make this team make more sense. They have an abundance of players who struggle to be efficient from beyond the arc while providing mediocre defense. It also gives the Blazers a chance to get rid of some bad contracts, like Jerami Grant‘s deal.
Murphy’s impact goes beyond the on-court impact because he is the type of personality that does well in this Portland locker room. He would likely mesh well with Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Camara, who are the most vocal players in this lineup.
If Cronin does pull off a massive Blazers trade, it is hard to count out this one from happening. With plenty of tradeable assets on the Blazers’ books, they could snap up Murphy as one of their primary targets who can make an impact in the next Trail Blazers coach’s system.
Featured Image: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
