The Celtics’ offseason has already taken one huge swing, and the next one could be just as wild.
Boston moved on from the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era after winning a title, and the deal nobody saw coming sent Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and picks. George, once viewed as a major name on the market, arrived in Boston after a down year and a suspension, with plenty of people around the league considering him one of the worst contracts out there. He can still score when he’s healthy and available, but he’s clearly a step down from Brown.
Even so, the Celtics may not be finished. George might not even be around for long if Boston decides to keep chasing upgrades.
One name that keeps coming up is Trey Murphy III. The Pelicans wing has been floating around trade chatter for a while, and Boston has been linked to him as a fit for a contender. The idea would be to use George as the main outgoing piece in a larger deal.
Jack Simone of Boston Sports Journal recently laid out how that kind of move could look.
"It feels like the Celtics have been linked to Trey Murphy III for months now. First, he was a TPE trade option," said Simone.
"Then, he was a Brown trade option. Now, he's still a potential option via a George trade.
"In theory, Boston could send George and a ton of draft capital to the Pelicans for Murphy and one of Dejounte Murray or Jordan Poole. Financially, that deal works. But the Celtics would have to include enough draft compensation to account for the New Orleans Pelicans taking on George's contract and the value of Murphy and any other players they receive."
That’s the catch. A George-for-Murphy framework can be made to work on paper, but New Orleans would need a serious sweetener to take on George’s money and give up Murphy, especially if another player like Murray or Poole is involved.
The question is how far Boston would go. Hugo Gonzalez seems unlikely to be part of the package; the Celtics were reportedly reluctant to include him in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. That would leave Boston leaning heavily on the picks it just got back in the Brown deal.
At that point, the price starts to look steep. Murphy is a strong player, but it’s fair to ask whether he’s worth surrendering the Brown return and taking on more unwanted salary in Murray or Poole. For now, the simpler path may be the best one: keep George, ride it out into the 2026-27 season, and see what happens.
In Other News...
Hunter Dickinson Just Got A Real Chance To Change His Pelicans Future
Hunter Dickinsons path with New Orleans took another small but meaningful step on July 4, when he re-signed a two-way contract and kept his NBA pursuit alive after going undrafted in 2025. Rather than take the overseas route, he stayed in the mix with the Pelicans, giving himself another runway to show he can translate his size and skill into a role at the next level.
His next chance comes in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where the Pelicans will get a fresh look at how far he has come. Defense, conditioning and three-point shooting will all be part of the evaluation, and for Dickinson, every possession matters as he tries to turn a developmental opportunity into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Summer League Could Reveal What This New Regime Really Wants
The Summer League in Las Vegas is usually where teams sort through fringe roster hopefuls and recent draft picks, but for the Pelicans it arrives with a little more weight this year. Under new executive vice president Joe Dumars, head coach Jamahl Mosley and assistant God Shammgod, the tournament will serve as an early look at how the new regime wants to evaluate young talent, coach on the fly and shape the next layer of the roster.
Kobe Bufkin and Hunter Dickinson are among the most closely watched names, while Melvin Council Jr., Chris Bell, Christian Shumate, Jalon Moore and Malik Dia are all trying to turn summer minutes into something more permanent. The bigger question is what New Orleans values most in those evaluations, because the mix of two-way and roster battles should tell a lot about the direction this front office wants to take, even if the clearest answer does not come until the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Trade Target Could Force A Huge Frontcourt Decision
The Pelicans are weighing a frontcourt move that would bring a very different look to their rotation, one centered on adding a big man who can stretch the floor and protect the rim. For a team trying to balance size, spacing and defensive reliability, that kind of fit is easy to understand, especially when the current roster could use another interior presence who does more than just occupy space near the basket.
Still, the appeal comes with real roster math attached. New Orleans would have to decide how much it is willing to give up to make the numbers work, and there are already questions about whether the player in question gives enough on the glass to justify the investment. The Pelicans have avenues to explore through salary matching and protected draft capital, but any serious pursuit would force them to confront a frontcourt decision that could shape the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]