DHJ Quick Take: Celtics Eye Trey Murphy III if They Miss on Giannis Antetokounmpo
Boston is among the teams interested in Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III as a fallback if it can’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo, per The Athletic.
- What’s the plan? If a Giannis deal falls through, the Celtics could keep the Tatum-Brown core and pursue Murphy as a wing upgrade.
- Who is Trey Murphy III? A 6-foot-8 two-way wing who averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists and shot 37.9% from 3 last season.
- Is he available? New Orleans, under Joe Dumars, has grown more willing to listen and is seeking a first-round pick before the draft.
- What’s next? The first round of the NBA Draft is Tuesday, 7 p.m. CT, ABC/ESPN, with free agency to follow.
The Boston Celtics have a backup plan in mind if they can’t land Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Trey Murphy III emerging as a target, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
The Athletic reported that Boston is among the many teams interested in the New Orleans Pelicans wing should a Giannis deal fall through.
Unlike the Miami Heat, who are pushing hard for Antetokounmpo, the Celtics aren’t operating with the same urgency and could comfortably run it back with the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown duo while upgrading elsewhere.
Why Trey Murphy III Makes Sense for Boston
Murphy fits what Boston would want from a secondary path. At 6-foot-8, the 25-year-old is one of the league’s better two-way wings, coming off a season in which he averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 47.0% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range across 66 games.
His size and shooting would slot cleanly alongside Tatum and Brown, and his contract is viewed as team-friendly, as he’s owed $27 million next season on a four-year, $112 million extension that runs through 2028-29.
New Orleans Pelicans Open to Listening
The opening exists because New Orleans has grown more willing to move Murphy this cycle. Under a new front office led by Joe Dumars, the Pelicans, who finished 26-56 and missed the playoffs, have signaled they’ll listen, with a particular interest in adding a first-round pick before the draft.
Several teams have inquired, including the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, and New Orleans is expected to seek a strong return of picks, prospects, and an immediate contributor.
How It Fits Boston’s Bigger Picture
For the Celtics, a Murphy pursuit only makes sense as a Plan B. Boston has explored a Giannis framework that would require parting with Brown, but if that doesn’t materialize, the front office could keep its title core intact and target a wing upgrade instead.
With Tatum working back from an Achilles injury that cost him most of last season, adding a versatile, floor-spacing forward like Murphy would give Boston another way to stay in contention without a full teardown.
Either way, the Celtics look determined to come out of the offseason with a meaningful addition on the wing.
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