The New Orleans Pelicans may have found a move that looks modest on the surface but could end up shifting everything around it. Adding Bennedict Mathurin at the price they did has the potential to be a smart swing, and if he ends up being even better than that bargain suggests, it could eventually put Trey Murphy III in play.
That’s where the Celtics enter the picture. Murphy already popped up in Boston trade rumors earlier this offseason, though nothing came of it, and there’s still no sign that New Orleans is actively shopping him. Even so, if Mathurin turns into the kind of fit the Pelicans want, Murphy could become the piece that makes sense to move.
The Pelicans remain one of the NBA’s rougher teams, and while they weren’t trying to tank last season - since that wouldn’t have helped them - they do want that to change. Mathurin, who played a role in the Indiana Pacers’ Cinderella run only a year ago, gives them a chance to start pushing in a different direction.
For Murphy, the math is simple: if Mathurin proves to be the better option in that system, Murphy’s status changes fast. It’s a long shot, sure, but stranger things have happened. And as loco as it sounds, we must remember that among the many factors that went into Brad Stevens' decision to trade Jaylen Brown included their depth.
That’s why Boston should still keep Murphy on the radar. He isn’t a superstar, but he doesn’t have to be.
Joe Mazzulla’s system is built around fit, and Murphy checks a lot of boxes. Paul George's role will likely be more about being a 3-and-D player than a 20-point scorer.
Murphy brings both of those qualities, and he’s younger too. He isn’t as talented as Brown, but the Celtics have made it clear they value fit over pure talent. He wouldn’t need to look like a traditional star next to Jayson Tatum; he’d just need to blend in the way Derrick White and Payton Pritchard do.
The catch is obvious: that same logic is part of why New Orleans never put him on the market in the first place, and if they ever did, the asking price would be steep. Still, Brad Stevens just picked up more assets recently and has done a solid job of holding onto the ones he already has.
In Other News...
Celtics Fans Keep Seeing Damian Lillard Buzz For One Reason
Damian Lillards name has been popping up again in Celtics circles, and this time it has less to do with actual team movement than with the internet doing what it does best. Recent Google search trends have shown a spike in interest around the idea of Lillard being traded to Boston, fueled by a viral trade proposal that got plenty of attention even though it was only a proposal.
For Celtics fans hoping there is more behind the buzz, the reality is less dramatic for now. There are no confirmed reports suggesting Boston is pursuing Lillard, and no indication Portland is looking to move him either. Lillard remains under contract with the Trail Blazers, complete with a player option and a no-trade clause, which makes any serious speculation about a Celtics fit a lot more complicated than a trending search result would suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Got An Ugly Early Warning Fans Will Want To See
ESPNs Summer Forecast has already put a spotlight on a future Celtics season that would count as a letdown by Boston standards, placing the club fifth among the teams most likely to underperform in 2026-27. The discussion centers on the trade of Jaylen Brown for Paul George, a move framed less as a simple talent swap than as a stylistic gamble, with the piece weighing how the two wings might translate in Joe Mazzullas system.
What makes the warning sting is the fit argument around it. The forecast suggests Georges game could mesh with Bostons preference for three-point shooting and a slower pace, but the projection still leaves plenty of unease about whether the Celtics would actually gain enough on the margin to avoid a step backward. It is the kind of early-season-of-the-future alarm bell that does not settle much, but it does make the long view around Boston a little harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatum Just Gave Celtics Fans An Awkward New Talking Point
Jayson Tatum is heading into his 10th NBA season after working his way back from Achilles injury rehab last year, and the Celtics offseason already has a few fresh storylines attached to it. Boston has also reshaped the roster, trading Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George as it gets ready for training camp, so every Tatum appearance is drawing a little extra attention from fans trying to gauge what comes next.
One of those appearances came during his international fan camp run, including a stop in China, where a video made the rounds showing Tatum missing several free throws before finally knocking one down. It was the sort of harmless offseason moment that can take on a life of its own when a star is under the microscope, especially with Boston entering camp with new pieces, a new look, and plenty of curiosity about how the next version of this team will come together. [Read more 🡒]