The Pistons have kept Trey Murphy III on their radar, but the asking price from New Orleans remains way out of line with what Detroit should be willing to pay.
The latest reporting says the Pelicans are still looking for 3-4 first-round picks in a deal for Murphy, and no team is lining up to meet that number. For Detroit, that kind of package only makes sense if the player in question is already a true second option. Murphy isn’t there.
He would fit in Detroit as a useful piece, sure. His off-ball game and catch-and-shoot touch would slide nicely alongside Cade Cunningham.
But the Pistons need more shot creation and more scoring punch next to Cunningham, and Murphy doesn’t solve that problem. To justify a haul that large, he’d need a proven All-Star-level résumé.
He doesn’t have that.
Jalen Duren has arguably accomplished more in his NBA career than Murphy at this point, since Duren made All-NBA and All-Star teams last season. Even then, Detroit still has real questions about Duren as a long-term second option after his playoff issues.
Murphy’s playoff sample doesn’t offer much either. He’s reached the postseason twice with New Orleans, in 2022 and 2024, but both times the Pelicans came in as an 8 seed and ran into the West’s top seed.
Murphy was never defended like a star in those series. In his latest run, he started and played 42 minutes per game, yet New Orleans still couldn’t take a single game from the Thunder.
That’s why a return built around one or two first-round picks feels far more reasonable than the Pelicans’ current ask. But New Orleans continues to hold firm, repeating a pattern that has already caused problems before, including in Detroit with some veteran pieces. In Murphy’s case, that stubbornness could end up costing him a chance to spend his prime on a real playoff contender.
Even if the Pistons had been tempted to overspend for Murphy, he still wouldn’t be enough by himself to push them into title territory. The Knicks went big for Mikal Bridges and were pleased with the result, but Detroit would still need another star-level scorer at power forward to complete the job.
If Murphy were dropped into the current core of Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and, hopefully, Jalen Duren, the Pistons would still be searching for that high-end scoring presence. Murphy can be a strong third or fourth option. He just isn’t the kind of centerpiece that justifies a godfather offer.
In Other News...
Jalen Duren Drama Leaves Pistons Facing A Huge Long Term Question
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Detroits willingness to listen on the market has added another layer to the story. The Pistons have already declined at least one trade framework involving Domantas Sabonis, a sign they are not eager to rush into a move just to resolve the tension. So the franchise is left balancing patience, leverage and the need to protect its future, while Durens next step remains unresolved and the bigger question of how he fits into the long-term picture is still hanging over the team. [Read more 🡒]
Cade Cunningham Is Chasing The Missing Piece Detroit Still Needs
Cade Cunningham is spending his offseason in Colorado, training at high elevation with a clear focus on endurance and core stability. For a player who already carries so much of Detroits offense, the work is aimed at making him more durable and more complete, especially as he tries to sharpen the physical edge that can matter over the course of a long season.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are still looking for more offensive help after re-evaluating the roster in the wake of last seasons playoff run. Cunninghams conditioning push fits that bigger picture, because Detroit needs its lead guard to stay effective when games tighten up late and possessions get heavier in the fourth quarter, even as the front office continues weighing what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Rumors Ignore One Huge Problem For The Pistons
The Anthony Davis buzz around Detroit comes from a mock trade proposal that would send the Mavericks star to the Pistons, but the basketball fit looks shaky almost as soon as you dig into it. Davis and Jalen Duren would create an awkward overlap in the frontcourt, and the Pistons have not shown any appetite for changing course at center, where Duren remains a key part of what they are building.
There is also the practical side of any deal, which is where the idea starts to wobble even more. Davis has been available only sparingly since arriving in Dallas, and the contract attached to him would be a major burden for Detroit to absorb without tearing into the depth that has helped stabilize the roster, making the whole scenario feel more like speculation than a realistic path forward. [Read more 🡒]