As the Detroit Pistons head to New Orleans tonight to face the Pelicans, there’s more than just a game on the line-there’s intrigue, too. With the trade deadline inching closer, all eyes are on the potential chess moves being considered behind the scenes.
And while the rumor mill has linked Detroit to Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, there’s been no confirmed traction between the two teams. Still, that won’t stop the speculation from swirling.
What we do know is that both front offices are deeply familiar with each other’s rosters-and that familiarity runs deep. Trajan Langdon, now steering the ship in Detroit, had a hand in drafting Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones during his time in New Orleans. He also played a key role in signing Jose Alvarado, so when it comes to evaluating that Pelicans core, Langdon doesn’t need a scouting report-he helped write it.
On the flip side, Troy Weaver, now in the Pelicans’ front office, was the architect behind Detroit’s selection of Jaden Ivey. Ivey’s name has been floated in hypothetical trade scenarios, and while his stock has dipped in the eyes of some Pistons fans, Weaver knows his game inside and out. He’s watched Ivey grow, stumble, and flash potential-and if anyone still believes in what Ivey could become, it’s likely Weaver.
So, while fans may overanalyze every Trey Murphy III possession tonight-debating whether he’s a “must-get” after a hot shooting night or dismissing him after a cold stretch-the reality is that the decision-makers already have their evaluations locked in. This isn’t a tryout. If a trade does happen, it won’t hinge on what happens in 48 minutes of basketball in the Big Easy.
That said, it’s easy to understand why Murphy’s name keeps popping up. He checks a lot of boxes: young, productive, and under a team-friendly contract that runs beyond this season.
He’s also just entering his prime, the kind of player who fits both win-now and long-term rebuild timelines. If New Orleans is indeed considering a future built around rookie standout Derik Queen, Murphy could still be an ideal piece of that puzzle.
Which is why it’s hard to see the Pelicans parting with him-at least without a significant return. But if there’s one wrinkle that keeps the door cracked open, it’s the Weaver factor.
He’s shown a tendency to bet on “second-draft” guys-players who may not have flourished in their first NBA stop but could thrive in a new environment. If he still believes in Ivey, and if Langdon sees a fit with Murphy in Detroit’s rebuild, there’s a scenario-however unlikely-where something materializes.
For now, though, this game is more about glimpses than guarantees. Pistons fans hoping for a deal will get a close-up look at a potential trade target.
Pelicans fans will get another reminder of just how valuable Murphy is to their current and future plans. And the front offices?
They’ll be watching, sure-but they already know what they’re looking at.
This one’s not about discovery. It’s about confirmation.