The Boston Celtics’ path forward after the Jaylen Brown trade runs straight through Jayson Tatum, and the latest Trey Murphy III update gives them a more realistic shot at landing the kind of wing they want around him.
Murphy has been the name most linked to Boston because his game fits Mazzulla Ball so cleanly. The problem had been the asking price.
New Orleans originally wanted four first-round picks, which made the whole thing feel steep. That number has now come down.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Pelicans have reduced their demand to three first-rounders. That’s a meaningful shift for Boston, especially after the trade for Paul George brought in two additional first-rounders and two second-rounders. Suddenly, the Celtics have more room to work without stripping themselves bare.
The next hurdle is figuring out the player going back the other way. In a perfect setup, Boston would send George out again along with picks, including some of the assets it picked up in the Brown deal. But New Orleans probably wouldn’t want George and his contract, which makes Derrick White the more realistic name to watch.
That would come with a cost on the defensive end, but the source material points out that White has been declining and was a horrible player in last season’s playoffs.
From a long-term standpoint, though, Murphy checks a lot of boxes for Boston. He’s 25, which makes him seven years younger than White and 11 years younger than George. He can score too, putting up 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season.
That production would give the Celtics an upgrade offensively, even if Murphy wouldn’t match White’s defense. Still, if Boston can put together the right package of a player and picks to get Murphy, the opportunity is there.
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Tatum addressed the change publicly for the first time at an event for his childrens book, and he made clear the transition has not been easy on a personal level. Even with Boston always moving forward, the emotional weight of seeing a longtime teammate and co-star gone is part of the story now, and it is the kind of development that changes not just the roster, but the entire feel of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]