The Portland Trail Blazers have a Shaedon Sharpe problem that's becoming difficult to ignore. He's an exceptionally talented and productive young wing, but his poor shooting have made him a questionable fit for a core that appears to be growing ahead of his schedule.
Although it's currently unclear if the Trail Blazers intend to trade Sharpe, their reported interest in Trey Murphy III seems to imply they're eyeing his replacement.
Portland drafted Sharpe in 2022 and have already signed him to a four-year, $90 million extension. As the team struggles to get over the hump and become a steady fixture in postseason discussions, however, the trade market will inevitably become a factor.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Trail Blazers are expected to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline and have their eyes on Murphy.
"Multiple executives have also circled the Portland Trail Blazers as a potential buyer ahead of the trade deadline and among the teams that like Murphy around the league."
In terms of what it would take for Portland to acquire the prized Pelicans wing, rival executives have expressed the belief that Murphy could yield a similar return to Desmond Bane.
"Some executives around the league who’ve spoken with HoopsHype have also wondered aloud if it would take a package similar to the Desmond Bane trade to acquire Murphy, who’s only 25 years old and signed through the 2028-29 season."
For those unfamiliar, the Orlando Magic acquired Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in 2025 for a package that included four first-round draft picks and a pick swap.
Trail Blazers eyeing Trey Murphy III, who has a Bane-level price tag
The hurdle in this deal is the simple fact that New Orleans would be parting with a productive 25-year-old wing who has multiple suitors. As such, competition would likely be fierce and the asking price could thus increase with every offer it receives.
Furthermore, it traded its 2026 first-round draft pick for Derik Queen and will likely be looking to load up on assets that can help it offset the damage.
That alone offers reason to believe the Pelicans may very well ask for the type of compensation that Memphis received for Bane. The hope, of course, is that a Trail Blazers team with superior depth to the Magic's could come up with an offer that lessens the outgoing cost.
Regardless of what the price ultimately proves to be, Murphy would represent an opportunity to make an upgrade over Sharpe without truly disregarding youth as a factor.
Trey Murphy III is a better on-paper fit with Blazers than Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe is a sensational talent, but he continues to struggle to shoot at 30.6 percent from beyond the arc—not far off of his career mark of 32.7 percent. The 22-year-old still offers high-level production, however, at 21.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on .454/.306/.791 shooting.
Murphy, 25, checks those same boxes with superior efficiency at 21.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on .489/.360/.899 shooting.
Even if one were to argue that the talent disparity isn't necessarily massive, Murphy is a better on-paper fit on both ends of the floor. He ranks in the 80th percentile in off-ball chaser defense compared to Sharpe placing in the 40th percentile.
Furthermore, Murphy can be found in the 50th percentile in perimeter isolation defense compared to Sharpe's woeful results that place him in the first percentile, per Basketball Index.
On the other end of the floor, Sharpe is shooting 23.1 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, while Murphy checks in at 42.0 percent. A season ago, Murphy finished at 40.0 percent while Sharpe landed at 31.3. For a Trail Blazers team that's struggled to incorporate a non-shooter into its otherwise balanced starting lineup, Murphy is simply a better fit.
The task ahead of the Trail Blazers will be convincing the Pelicans that a trade can happen without one team losing a surplus of draft picks. Even if they can't, Murphy represents a chance to upgrade.