The Portland Trail Blazers have struggled to keep up in the loaded Western Conference, now sitting in 10th place with a 9-15 record. The Deni Avdija trade is the main thing keeping hope alive in Portland, but the Blazers must add more complementary star power.
One team they need to get on the phone with this season is the New Orleans Pelicans, who have been enduring struggles of their own at 3-21 (with no first-round pick to look forward to).
The good news is that Portland could benefit from New Orleans' questionable front-office decisions. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that the Pelicans are now listening to trade offers for forwards Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
"New Orleans is now starting to listen and at least show some willingness to listen on Herb Jones and Trey Murphy," Fischer said on a Bleacher Report livestream. "Those guys are going to have a lot of interest around the league. They're both on very strong long-term contracts that are considered relatively team-friendly. Under $30 million in average annual value, which is a big threshold in this current market."
Blazers should explore a trade for Trey Murphy or Herb Jones
Fischer adds that the Pelicans will also explore trades for Zion Williamson. The former No. 1 overall pick is unfortunately sidelined yet again after suffering a right adductor injury. His talent is undeniable, and he'd be a fit for the Blazers' rebuilding timeline at 25 years old, but he's also exceeded 30 games played in just two of the first five seasons of his career. While Portland desperately needs star power, Zion's injury history is not a risk worth taking. Outside of the shocking Yang Hansen selection, the Blazers front office has been risk-averse, and Williamson doesn't fit that approach.
Murphy and Jones are two more reliable options that are better fits for what is brewing in Portland.
The Blazers have finally established a defensive identity, in large part thanks to the trades for two-way wings Avdija and Toumani Camara. Adding Murphy or Jones into that mix would instantly give Portland an elite defense, and the versatility of these players would allow interim head coach Tiago Splitter plenty of flexibility with his rotations.
Murphy is a borderline star and one of the most underrated players in the league, in part because of the lack of team success he's had in New Orleans. As a 38.1% career three-point shooter, he'd be a perfect fit to bolster their defensive strengths while addressing their shooting weaknesses.
Jones doesn't possess the same upside, but would likely be more easily attainable and could be a more realistic option as another great fit for Portland. He'd be an upgrade offensively over the likes of Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko, and could provide a long-term replacement for Matisse Thybulle, who is on an expiring deal.
Blazers general manager Joe Cronin has shown a willingness to attach draft capital to trades if he feels like the player aligns with their rebuilding timeline and roster vision, and it's hard to think of a better fit out of the current trade candidates on the market.
It depends on New Orleans' asking price, but both Murphy and Jones are absolutely worth pursuing and make a ton of sense for Portland to take that next step in their rebuild.