The Detroit Pistons are officially flipping the script-and fast. Just two years removed from tying the NBA record for consecutive losses, they now find themselves sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.
That’s not a typo. The Pistons, long a symbol of rebuilding purgatory, are suddenly in the thick of the playoff picture and looking like a team ready to make noise in the postseason.
And if there’s ever been a season to go all in, this might be it.
Several of the East’s usual heavyweights have been hampered by injuries, opening a rare window for a team like Detroit to make a serious run. The Pistons have a deep well of young talent and future draft picks-valuable currency in today’s NBA-and they just might have the ammo to land the kind of player who can elevate them from surprise contender to legitimate Finals threat.
One name that makes a whole lot of sense? Trey Murphy.
The Proposed Trade:
- Pistons receive: Trey Murphy
- Pelicans receive: Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, two first-round picks
Let’s break down why this deal works-especially for Detroit.
Why Trey Murphy Fits the Pistons' Puzzle
The Pistons have built a promising young core, but there’s a clear imbalance on the roster. They’re stacked with athletic slashers and interior finishers, but the outside shooting? That’s still a work in progress.
Last season, the turning point came when the team added Malik Beasley, one of the league’s most prolific and efficient three-point shooters. Beasley’s ability to stretch the floor opened up driving lanes for Cade Cunningham and created space for Detroit’s bigs to operate. That shooting presence was critical to their late-season surge.
Beasley isn’t back this year due to a gambling investigation, but Detroit did find a capable replacement in Duncan Robinson. He’s held down the sniper role well, but outside of Robinson, the Pistons are thin when it comes to perimeter threats. The numbers back it up: Detroit ranks 28th in the league in three-point attempts per game (31.7), and while their efficiency is passable at 35.6%, the volume just isn’t there.
That’s where Trey Murphy comes in.
Murphy is one of the premier catch-and-shoot threats in the league. He’s already cleared the 40% mark from deep in past seasons, and he’s shown he can do it with volume-knocking down seven or more threes in multiple 20-point games over the last two years. He’s not just a floor-spacer; he’s a weapon.
But Murphy isn’t a one-dimensional shooter. He brings legit defensive chops to the table and has the kind of athleticism that’s made him a Dunk Contest standout.
He can guard multiple positions, run the floor, and knock down shots from anywhere beyond the arc. For a Pistons team that needs more spacing around Cade Cunningham’s downhill game, Murphy is an ideal fit.
What the Pistons Would Be Giving Up
This deal would cost Detroit Caris LeVert, rookie Ron Holland, and two first-round picks. That’s not nothing-but it’s also not a price that should scare them off.
LeVert hasn’t quite found his rhythm since arriving in Detroit this offseason. He’s a capable scorer, but his fit alongside Cunningham and Jaden Ivey has been clunky, especially given the team’s need for more floor spacing.
Holland, meanwhile, is an intriguing prospect with real upside, but he’s another non-shooter on a roster already full of them. The Pistons have spent the last few years stacking young talent through the draft-it might be time to cash in some of those chips.
Two first-rounders is a significant investment, but if Murphy is the missing piece that helps push this team into the Eastern Conference Finals-or beyond-it’s a move that makes sense. Championship windows don’t stay open forever, and Detroit’s might be opening sooner than anyone expected.
The Pelicans’ Side of the Deal
New Orleans is in a tough spot. At 5-22, they’re sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, and the unprotected 2026 first-round pick they traded away to land Derik Queen is starting to look like a major gamble. That pick now belongs to the Atlanta Hawks, and if the Pelicans continue to slide, it could end up near the top of the draft.
That puts New Orleans in a bind. They’re not quite in full tank mode, but they’re not competing either.
Their rookies-Jeremiah Fears and Queen-have shown promise, but the bigger question is what to do with Zion Williamson. Injuries continue to derail his career, and if the Pelicans decide to move on from their former No. 1 pick, a full-scale rebuild might follow.
In that scenario, trading Trey Murphy becomes more plausible. At 25, he’s still young enough to be part of the next core, but he also holds significant trade value-especially to a team like Detroit that’s desperate for shooting. Getting back two first-rounders, a recent lottery pick in Holland, and a veteran in LeVert could be a solid return if the Pelicans decide to reset.
Is It Enough?
That’s the million-dollar question. Murphy’s value is high-and rightly so.
Just this past offseason, Desmond Bane fetched a haul of four first-round picks in a deal driven by a team’s need for elite shooting. If that’s the going rate, the Pelicans might want to hold out for more.
Still, this proposed deal gives both teams a clear path forward. For Detroit, it’s a chance to capitalize on a rare opportunity in a wide-open East. For New Orleans, it’s a chance to build toward the future while adding valuable assets to a young, developing roster.
Whether or not the trade goes down, one thing is clear: the Pistons are no longer rebuilding. They’re ready to compete-and they might just be one shooter away from making the leap.