Article in The Athletic on Trey Murphy

Why Trey Murphy’s development is becoming a major priority in Pelicans’ future

by Will Guillory

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After getting drafted with the 17th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and dominating in his brief time at NBA Summer League, it was considered a forgone conclusion that Murphy would be an immediate contributor during his rookie season.

It didn’t work out that way.

First-year coach Willie Green shuffled his lineups on multiple occasions, working to find the right combinations through the first few months of the season. Murphy was often the odd man out among the wings, playing 20 or more minutes only six times in his first 45 career games.

As he enters his second season, Murphy’s importance to this current version of the roster is unquestioned.

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But Murphy’s development isn’t the only reason his spot in the rotation is secure. There just aren’t many reliable wing options behind him to take away those minutes.

The Pels have managed to build one of the deepest rosters in the league, but much of that depth exists among the guards and the big men. Among the reserves, the only viable options behind Murphy are Naji Marshall and Garrett Temple. Jaxson Hayes and Dyson Daniels could play some spot minutes on the wing, but they’d have major issues dealing with certain matchups.

It’s not exactly a glaring hole on the roster, but it’s something the front office is keeping an eye on going into the season. And in many ways, that evaluation process begins and ends with Murphy.

If he makes the jump many among the team are expecting him to make this year, the Pels can take their preferred route and remain patient with this group. But if he deals with some inconsistency or injury issues, New Orleans may have to increase their aggression in the trade market.

Names such as Bojan Bogdanovic (before he was dealt to Detroit) and the currently available Jae Crowder have been linked to the Pels, but the team has dodged those conversations for the most part because of their belief in Murphy. They’d rather keep their young assets and future first-round picks for other deals down the road. That confidence may waver if Murphy doesn’t perform.

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Even with some of the progress that Murphy has shown with his offensive game over the summer, the key to him truly growing up this season will be fully locking in on the defensive end. And it’s not just about holding his own in 1-on-1 situations against other wings.

Part of Green’s lack of trust in Murphy early in his rookie year came from Murphy struggling to read and react with the quickness required in today’s fast-paced game. There were numerous times when he’d get caught out of position on a rotation or a closeout and it would cost him.

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Last week, Murphy said he added 13 pounds to his frame during the offseason so he could be better prepared for those bruising 1-on-1 matchups.

Green also noted this week that he’ll be challenging Murphy to hold his own on switches more often this year to provide more versatility to the defense. Lineups featuring Ingram, Jones and Murphy had success last year because they were so interchangeable on the perimeter and they covered so much ground with their length.

Murphy can make those lineups even more potent if he keeps showing glimpses of how fluid he looks when he’s trying to stay in front of quicker guards.

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If he continues to show he can hold his own in a variety of matchups, it’ll give Green the freedom to use him in a number of lineups without worrying about if Murphy will turn into a target for the other team.

“For him, it’s guarding multiple positions. We know wing spots are interchangeable,” Green said, “but can you guard a point guard? Can you sometimes guard a five? I don’t know if he’s there yet, but it’s definitely something he can work towards.”

Murphy’s playing time went up in the second half of his rookie season once he started knocking down perimeter shots with consistency, and his spacing will be even more crucial this season with Williamson coming back.

Per NBA.com, Murphy made 38.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season, which ranked fourth among rookies with at least 100 attempts. That number skyrocketed to 46.1 percent after the All-Star break as Murphy started playing with more regularity.

Murphy has worked to perfect his outside stroke, and he’s committed to extending his range to 30 feet and beyond if teams are willing to give him those wide-open looks.

He understands that playing next to a dominant force like Williamson will open up easy opportunities for him to do what he does best. The more he knocks down those open shots, the more Green will want to get him on the floor in lineups next to Zion.

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Guillory also mentions that Murphy's continued development might be a factor in Devonte Graham's exit from the team, if Murphy can stay on the floor and be the reliable 3-pt threat that we hope he can be.

Something that Guillory didn't mention is the role that Murphy's growth (both literal and in terms of development) might play in the departure of Jaxson Hayes. If Murphy is now big and strong enough to consistently guard opposing bigs, then Jaxson really has no role on the team.