Trey Murphy III is the name that is being attached to the Detroit Pistons‘ most urgent offseason need – and the case is sharper than a typical summer trade rumor.
The Pistons finished the 2025-2026 campaign as the Eastern Conference’s top seed, then watched Cade Cunningham carry an increasingly one-dimensional offense into two painful playoff exits.
CBS Sports writer Jack Maloney
Trey Murphy Boasting Elite Numbers
Murphy is 25 years old, locked into year one of a four-year, $112 million deal, and coming off a 2025-2026 season in which he averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for the New Orleans Pelicans.
He shot 42.6% on catch-and-shoot attempts last season – elite, not just good. His career three-point mark across 317 Pelicans games sits at 38.2%, and he is already showing secondary creation ability that makes him genuinely dangerous beyond the arc.
The contract math matters here. At roughly $25 million annually, Murphy is a below-max mid-tier star on a team-friendly structure. That is the kind of deal contenders package around their primary – it is not the kind of deal a team overpays to shed.
Detroit Pistons Need More Offensive Fire
CBS writer Jack Maloney said: “Adding more shooting and scoring to take some of the offensive burden off Cade Cunningham’s shoulders should be the Pistons’ top priority.
“He’s a big wing who can space the floor as an elite catch-and-shoot threat (42.6% on such attempts last season) but can also create some of his own offense.”
Murphy is anoff-ball scorer who scales next to a primary creator without demanding high usage. That is the exact profile Cunningham needs alongside him.
The two-time All-Star was reaching another level in both playoff runs – but the Pistons blew a 3-1 lead against the Orlando Magic in round one, then burned out after a 2-0 lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
The Obstacles Behind Trey Murphy Deal
Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon has a direct line to this trade that other suitors do not. Langdon was the executive who oversaw Murphy‘s selection at No. 17 overall in 2021 as Pelicans GM – he drafted the player he is now reportedly pursuing.
Former Detroit executives Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver now sit on the New Orleans side of any negotiating table. That familiarity cuts both ways: institutional knowledge accelerates conversations, but personal history can complicate price.
The Pelicans held firm before the 2026 trade deadline and refused to move Murphy despite significant interest across the league. Industry consensus – as multiple outlets tracking Murphy’s trade price have noted – is that New Orleans would require multiple first-round picks and potentially a core young player before agreeing to deal him.
Some scenarios circulating in Detroit circles involve three firsts and a swap, or a salary-driven package built around picks. That is a steep price. It is also a justifiable one for a 6’8″ two-way wing in his mid-20s on a below-max contract.
Detroit has already shown its hand on asset movement. The Pistons sent Jaden Ivey to Chicago in a three-team deal that returned Kevin Huerter, Dario Šarić, and a 2026 first-round pick swap from Minnesota – a clear signal that Langdon is now in win-now mode.
The Pistons have already been connected to other significant wing targets this offseason, which frames the Murphy push as part of a broader, aggressive roster reset rather than a single swing.
Piston Detroits Showing Willingness
This trade is interesting – not inevitable. The odds sit closer to 30/70 against completion right now, given the Pelicans‘ public posture and the competition from other teams. But the fit is real, the connection is real, and Detroit‘s demonstrated willingness to move assets shifts this from fantasy to genuine possibility.
The next decision point is the 2026 NBA Draft. If New Orleans starts signaling a rebuild around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, Murphy‘s availability changes immediately. Langdon will know before anyone else – and that inside track is the Pistons‘ most underrated leverage in this pursuit.
