The Celtics’ interest in Trey Murphy III is no secret, and if New Orleans ever puts him on the market, Boston won’t be bidding alone.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks also have interest in the Pelicans forward, setting up what could be a crowded chase. Boston, though, may be in a position to play for him after trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
One trade idea built in Fanspo’s trade machine would send Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole to Boston, with the Pelicans landing Paul George, a 2032 first-round pick, 2030 and 2031 first-round pick swaps, plus 2030 and 2032 second-round picks.
For the Celtics, the appeal is pretty clear. Murphy brings a lot of the same ingredients as George, only with far more runway ahead of him.
He’s 26, stands 6-8, gets off the floor in a hurry and can stretch the defense. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 21.4 points per game while shooting 37.1 percent from 3-point range.
He looks like the kind of wing who can slide into just about any lineup, and there are people who think he still has another level to reach, maybe even All-Star territory.
There’s also the contract piece, which matters just as much. Murphy has three years left on his deal, so Boston would have him through the 2028-29 season and get him right as his prime begins to take shape.
Poole is the other incoming piece in this scenario. His value has dipped since his championship run with the Golden State Warriors, but he only has one year left on his contract.
In the best case, he gives Boston scoring and shooting off the bench. In the worst case, he’s gone from the roster in 12 months.
The price, of course, is steep. Boston would be parting with a first-round pick, two first-round swaps and two second-rounders.
That’s not pocket change. But if the Celtics believe Murphy is the final ingredient they need to stay in the title mix, it’s the kind of move they could justify.
For New Orleans, the whole deal is about piling up draft assets.
Scotto reported that the Pelicans recently dropped their asking price for Murphy from the equivalent of four first-round picks to three. That’s still a heavy ask for a player who hasn’t made an All-Star team.
The 76ers’ return for Brown puts that number in perspective. Philadelphia got Brown, a five-time All-Star who received MVP votes last season, in exchange for George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Boston took plenty of heat for that deal, but it’s difficult to picture the front office turning around and sending out even more draft capital for Murphy.
This proposed trade would still give New Orleans three first-round assets, though two of them are swaps that would let the Pelicans exchange picks with Boston in two different drafts.
The lingering issue is George himself. Why would the Pelicans move Murphy for an aging veteran?
The answer is in the draft haul. New Orleans would be betting that George, still a useful two-way wing, can help steady the roster in the short term while the front office keeps collecting pieces to build around Zion Williamson, Derik Queen and Herb Jones.
If George becomes the stumbling block, the Pelicans could try to push one of the swaps into a standard first-round pick. That may be where Boston decides enough is enough.
In Other News...
Paul George Arrival Puts Celtics Rotation Questions Front And Center
The Celtics are set to introduce Paul George, Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson at a media event on Sept. 15, and the timing underscores how much of the conversation around this group has already shifted from star power to fit. With Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens also scheduled to speak, Bostons offseason additions are now being measured against the same question that follows every reshaped contender: who starts, who settles in, and how quickly the pieces can be arranged without disturbing the core.
Robinsons expected bench role is one part of that puzzle, while Conley gives the Celtics a veteran depth option at point guard and George brings obvious intrigue inside Mazzullas system. Even Neemias Quetas contract situation ties into the bigger roster picture, because Boston is clearly weighing how each spot is used and protected. The real test may not be whether the names fit on paper, but how seamlessly the Celtics can sort out the rotation once the conversations turn into actual minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Low-Risk Guard Opportunity Worth Watching
The Celtics have a fresh little roster wrinkle to monitor after the Hawks waived Devin Carter, opening the door for a guard who has already logged NBA time and could fit neatly into Bostons two-way conversation. Carter spent last season with Sacramento, appearing in 38 games, and his availability comes at a time when the Celtics are always weighing low-cost backcourt options that can add depth without changing the bigger picture.
Boston does have internal choices if it wants to stay in-house, including Milos Uzan, so this is not a case of urgency. Still, Carters status is worth watching because a two-way spot can turn into one of those quietly useful roster moves, especially for a team that likes to keep as many flexible guard options around as possible. The remaining question is whether Carter is open to that kind of path and whether another opportunity pulls him elsewhere first. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Arrives With One Big Celtics Question Already Looming
Paul George is arriving in Boston with plenty to prove, and the conversation around him already starts with where he stands among the leagues wings. HoopHype slotted him at No. 22 among small forwards heading into the 2026-27 season, a drop from No. 18 a year ago, a reflection of a 2025-26 campaign that never really found a stable rhythm. Even so, he still put up 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals while hitting 39.2 percent of his 3s, numbers that help explain why the Celtics are expected to lean on him in a meaningful way.
The bigger issue is whether Boston can count on the version of George it needs for the full season, because last year was interrupted far too often to build much momentum. He appeared in just 37 games and also served a 25-game suspension under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, leaving his market value and on-court reliability in a very different place than the one he occupied not long ago. For the Celtics, the question isnt whether the skill is still there. Its whether the availability and consistency will follow. [Read more 🡒]