Trey Murphy III has overlooked trait that would help the Pistons' most urgent problem

Everyone talks about the Detroit Pistons’ need for shooting, which is real, but the more pressing need is for more players who can handle the ball. 

The postseason made it clear that the Pistons need big help in this area, as they turned the ball over way too much under the pressure of playoff defense and didn't have enough reliable ball handling. 

If you watched the NBA Finals, both the Knicks and Spurs took care of the ball and had guys up and down their rosters who could handle it. 

The Pistons’ reported interest in Trey Murphy III has fans buzzing, as he’s an efficient scorer and accurate high-volume 3-point shooter that would definitely fill a need for shooting on the wing without being a huge defensive liability. 

And while TMIII is not an elite ball handler by any means, he does take care of it, which is a trait the Pistons could certainly use. 

Trey Murphy III doesn’t turn it over 

The Pistons were just 22nd in the NBA in turnovers per game this season, a problem that reared its ugly head in the playoffs. 

Trey Murphy III is not going to solve that on his own, and he’s not a guy who is going to initiate the offense much or bring the ball up the court. 

But he does take care of it, as TMIII had a usage rate of 22.7 percent this season with a turnover rate of just 9.4 percent. He actually led the league in turnover rate two seasons ago, so he is a player who takes care of the ball. 

To put it in perspective, TMIII’s turnover rate would be the lowest on the Pistons by far for any player with a usage rate of over 20 percent.  

Daniss Jenkins and Jalen Duren both had similar usage rates as Murphy III but turned it over at a 15.3 and 11.6 percentage, respectively. Cade Cunningham’s turnover percentage is just under 15, though he is in a far different role, and Ausar Thompson’s is 14.3 percent even though his usage rate is far lower than TMIII’s. 

Part of this is that Trey Murphy III isn’t much of a creator, so he’s not often dribbling into traffic, but it does speak to his ability to make the right pass as a connector, as he did average just under four assists per game this season. 

He certainly can’t be the only solution to the Pistons’ ballhandling problems, as they have too many guys with loose handles, but he won’t make it worse and is at least a guy you can count on not to turn the ball over too much. 

It’s not something most people consider with TMIII, but his ability to take care of the ball is an attribute that can’t be overlooked. 

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