The Boston Celtics may not be done reshaping the roster after the Jaylen Brown trade, but if they want Trey Murphy, they’re going to have to pay a massive price.
Murphy has emerged as a name to watch in trade chatter, and the latest reporting suggests New Orleans would only part with him for a package that starts with four first-round picks. That kind of asking price would be steep for almost any team, especially for a player who is not in the superstar tier.
“Trey Murphy, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.)
It does look increasingly like Murphy will stay put. He is a favorite in NBA trade rumors, there are questions on how serious New Orleans would be about trading him.
One exec says it will take a Desmond Bane-style offer (four first-round picks) to pry him from New Orleans, though that price has dropped a bit. Still, there’s been no movement yet,” Sean Deveney wrote.
That’s the kind of return that makes you stop and think. Four first-round picks is the sort of haul you’d expect to see attached to a true franchise-changing player, not just an above-average piece. In today’s NBA, that kind of deal feels like it belongs in a very small club.
The Celtics, at least in theory, could be looking for another move that helps them get better heading into next season. Murphy would fit the idea of adding talent after a major swing, but the cost attached to him sounds extreme.
And if a player like Jayson Tatum were ever available, then four first-round picks would be the kind of package Boston would expect back. For players below that level, the market has already shifted so far that deals like this feel increasingly hard to justify, even with recent examples such as Mikal Bridges and Desmond Bane.
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