The Trey Murphy III rumors have been getting hotter and hotter as the 2026 NBA Draft inches closer. After NBA Insider Jake Fischer relinked Murphy III to Golden State, HoopsHype Mike Scotto further fueled that possibility in his latest intel drop. Scotto said the Warriors and Pelicans have discussed a deal centered on the No. 11 pick for Murphy III, and that New Orleans is targeting a specific lottery player.
Whether it’s the Warriors or another team, it’s starting to look more and more likely that Murphy III will be dealt tonight during the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Other teams that have been linked to him at this point are the Hawks with an offer centered around the No. 8 pick, along with the Pistons, Celtics, and Pacers.
All signs point to Murphy III being dealt
The idea of Murphy III being traded for pick No. 11 isn’t a new one on this site.
It’s been known that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver wanted to get back into the first round of this draft, specifically the lottery, which made it easy to see why they would be interested in a deal with the Warriors. I wasn't originally a fan of the Pelicans moving Murphy III for No. 11, but that was mostly contingent on their using that pick to draft Nate Ament. But if we remove Ament from the equation and instead talk about a package involving No. 11, Brandin Podziemski, future draft capital, and assets acquired by rerouting Draymond Green, I don’t hate it.
Podz gets a ton of hate online, but for those who have actually watched him play, they know he would be an instant fan favorite in New Orleans. He brings that hard-nosed, hustle-first mentality that Pelicans fans love, paired with a career 37.5 percent three-point percentage that could make him a great fit next to Jeremiah Fears in the backcourt.
Out of the potential suitors that have been named, Golden State may truly check the most boxes possible. Golden State can offer win-now players like Podziemski, high-upside future draft picks from the post-Steph era, and a lottery pick all in one deal.
With several sources now reporting that New Orleans is targeting a specific player in the lottery, it is unlikely that a trade will be made before the draft officially starts. While the top-4 of this class seem rather concrete, anything after that is pretty unknown. So if the Pelicans are to trade up, they’ll likely be waiting until they can confirm they’ll get their guy, and as of now, that is the thing I’d predicted is stopping a Murphy III trade from happening right now.
While teams like the Pistons, Pacers, and Celtics have been reported to have interest in Murphy III, they don’t own a lottery pick. From the dots I've connected, it seems like the Pelicans want a lottery pick and some form of win-now talent to part with their ascending two-way wing. The only teams rumored to be suitors that check those boxes are the Hawks and Warriors. So Pelicans fans should make sure they are tuned in and ready when the clock starts ticking for Atlanta at No. 8 and Golden State at No. 11.
