The Pistons have reached a point in the offseason where they've cooled off most potential acquisitions, but Trey Murphy III always remains a name of interest in Detroit. Murphy seems destined for a trade soon after years of idling on the Pelicans and he'll have plenty of suitors but thankfully the Pistons have one leg up on the competition because of their familiarity with the Pelicans' front office.
Before taking over the Pelicans, general manager Troy Weaver and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars led the Pistons rebuild, including drafting franchise cornerstones like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. At the same time, they also cost the Pistons by overplaying their hand with some veteran trade candidates before having to send them out for meager returns - a pattern that they seem to be repeating with Murphy.
The Pistons know better than to bite on the Pelicans' bait
When that front office was leading the Pistons, they held on too long to a bunch of players: Jerami Grant, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. All three could have been traded for solid returns during their Detroit days, but Weaver and Dumars held out for the hopes of multiple first-round picks. When they set the price too high, they didn't get any bites and eventually had to settle for just one total first-rounder in return for all three.
It would be one thing if the Pelicans were offering a legitimate game-changing star who could shift the balance of power in the NBA. But instead, they are offering a high-end support piece who other teams don't value as a true star. Even though Murphy would be a perfect fit in Detroit, the Pistons should hold off on giving up too much for him, especially knowing that the price will likely come down in the future.
In fact, the Pistons have positioned themselves well to acquire Murphy for a smaller cost when that eventual shift comes from the Pelicans. They've built up a few tradable salaries and left some cap flexibility to make a midseason move, which might be when the Pelicans finally relent to the market. At the same time, the Pistons' upcoming draft picks are also getting more valuable with shifting lottery odds, which increase the chances of a Detroit draft pick landing high in the draft despite their consistent regular season excellence.
Murphy is still a dream target at the right price
Still, we should make no mistake about Murphy as an addition in Detroit. If the Pistons see the desired offensive growth in their young core this season, Murphy would be an excellent option to round out the roster and be their missing piece. He's not the best creator himself, but it's hard to find another young player who's better suited to finish opportunities next to Cunningham, Duren and Ausar Thompson.
Murphy lines up with the Pistons' existing young core both in terms of age and skillset. However, the Pistons honestly still have some work to do before being ready to add him seamlessly. They first need to secure Duren and Thompson on reasonable long-term deals and prove that they have enough creation to warrant giving up a haul for Murphy.
In some ways, New Orleans' hesitation to deal Murphy now could be a blessing in disguise for the Pistons. It gives them more time to figure out their existing roster and pounce for Murphy when the time and price are right.
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