The Portland Trail Blazers missed out on a dream trade target as Jaren Jackson Jr. shockingly landed with the Utah Jazz in a seven-player blockbuster deal. But there's still an opportunity for Portland to come away with a star of their own in the next two days if they can convince the New Orleans Pelicans to part ways with Trey Murphy III.
In terms of top available options, Jackson and Murphy were always the two trade candidates that made the most sense for Portland to pursue this Trade Season. Their age and two-way impact made them perfect fits for the stage the Blazers are at in their rebuild. And with JJJ off the table, they should now shift their focus to Murphy as the co-star to pair with Deni Avdija.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. off the table, Blazers should pivot to Trey Murphy III
The Pelicans reportedly have a steep asking price for their rising star, with some comparing it to a Desmond Bane-like package. But just look at what he did in their most recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets: 27 points and four assists on efficient shooting (10-20 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 4-4 FT).
The Blazers recently traded for Atlanta Hawks guard Vít Krejčí, and the fact that they surrendered future draft capital in the process suggests that they are looking to buy at the deadline.
They also have expressed interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Greek Freak unfortunately has no interest in coming to Portland despite his connections to former teammates Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard. Murphy is relatively more realistic as someone who should be considered a dream trade target rather than a pipe dream, as is the case with Giannis.
Murphy's skillset is everything that Portland's front office tends to covet. His defensive versatility stands out as a 6-foot-8 wing, which would bolster an existing roster strength for Portland. That would also give Tiago Splitter tremendous flexibility in terms of lineups and rotations, as Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Murphy can all effectively play multiple positions.
One drawback in an aggressive pursuit of Murphy would be that the Blazers still wouldn't have a contender ceiling, especially given their brutal path to the Finals out west. But they have enough valuable assets to the point where they could acquire Murphy and still continue upgrading the roster in the future. He's also only 25 years old, meaning this would be an addition to a growing young core rather than a win-now move.
Murphy may not be that 1a superstar that Portland still needs to find, but he checks just about every other box.