Detroit Pistons: three best 3-and-D trade up targets in NBA Draft

Detroit Pistons: Trey Murphy III is a terrific shooter with the tools to be a good defender

Trey Murphy III fits the prototypical build GM Troy Weaver covets in his wing players. The 21-year-old forward stands at 6-foot-9 with a seven-foot wingspan. Weaver likes to target wing players who are long and athletic, and Murphy III fits the bill perfectly.

The 21-year-old spent the first two years of his collegiate career suiting up for the Rice Owls, before transferring to the University of Virginia Cavaliers for his junior season.

Murphy III has been a threat from beyond the arc in each of his three seasons in college. Most recently, the forward shot 43.3 percent from three-point range on 4.8 attempts per game. Over half of his field-goal attempts last season were three-pointers.

The 6-9 forward has shown a great ability to get his feet set on catch and shoot opportunities making him a great off-ball shooter.

In Detroit, Murphy III would make a great role player to go alongside their young core. His ability to be a catch-and-shoot threat along the perimeter would pair him nicely with Cade Cunningham and power forward Jerami Grant, who could kick the ball out to him, when they are trapped by double teams.

His ability to space the floor as a wing player would also help point guard Killian Hayes as he develops into a more well-rounded NBA player. Having a well-spaced floor will be important to helping Hayes as he develops his own jump shot.

Drafting Murphy III would go a long way towards helping a Detroit team that struggled to shoot the ball from beyond the arc last season. Murphy III is going to need to develop in other aspects of the game if he is going to be a worthwhile pick in the NBA Draft.

Besides shooting, there is a lot of room to grow for Murphy III. The 21-year-old has untapped athletic potential that the right environment could bring out.

Murphy III was not much of a rebounding threat for Virginia last season. He reeled in 3.4 rebounds per game last season, a number that could have easily been higher if he were more aggressive on the boards. Murphy III has the length and athleticism to be a great rebounder, but he was simply not an aggressive rebounder in his junior year.

Part of his struggles with rebounding also come with his 206-pound frame. Murphy III would benefit from putting on some extra muscle to make it easier for him to box out his opponents,  and also become more assertive as a rebounder.

Defense will be critical to Murphy III having a long career in the NBA. At Virginia, the forward was uninspiring on the defensive end of the court. He averaged 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks through 25 games with the Cavaliers. He had just 0.9 defensive win shares last season as well.

Murphy III has a lot of room to grow defensively.

The 21-year-old is not a complete liability on defense, but his occasional lapses in judgment have left him prone to getting beat off the dribble, and allowing his opponents to have open looks from three. His 206-pound frame also put him at a disadvantage in the post against burly competitors.

Despite his lapses on the defensive end of the court, Murphy III has the right build to be a good defender in the NBA. If he can develop on defense, the Wahoo could be able to utilize his seven-foot wingspan to disrupt passing lanes by intercepting or redirecting passes. His length would also make him a threat as a shot blocker on the perimeter.

Pistons coach Dwane Casey has a propensity for developing young talent. Murphy III enters the NBA as an unrefined player on the defensive end of the floor. Casey and his coaching staff would provide the 21-year-old as good a chance as any to reach his full potential on defense.

Murphy III would also be able to learn from good defensive players such as Grant and Stewart.

In Detroit, Murphy III would have the tools, the coaching and the supporting cast to help him become a good defender in the NBA. Ultimately, Murphy III’s development on the defensive end of the court will come down to effort. If the wing player puts in the work, he will have no difficulty becoming a dependable player on defense.