Jason Burgos
If the Detroit Pistons break away from the franchise’s norms to make a blockbuster trade this summer, an insider for the team offered up the safe choice they will target, and it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kawhi Leonard.
The Pistons are still licking their wounds after a frustrating end to their 2025-26 season. Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference for almost all of this season, and overcoming a 3-1 deficit to the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals, they lost four of the last five in the semis and fell in Game 7 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After falling well short of the ultimate goal, there has been a ton of speculation about the Pistons making the sort of move this summer that leapfrogs them into being a serious title contender in 2026-27.
Two names that have been linked to Detroit in trade speculation are future Hall of Famers Leonard and Antetokounmpo. However, on Wednesday, The Athletic’s Pistons reporter Hunter Patterson pointed out that with a young core of Cade Cunningham (24), Ausar Thompson (23), and Jalen Duren (22), neither legend fits the long-term contender timeline management is trying to set up.
A big trade seems like something Detroit must do if they hope to overcome the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and a fully healthy Indiana Pacers next season. Well, Patterson has a “more interesting” option that fits what Trajan Langdon is looking to build.
Could the Detroit Pistons target a Trey Murphy III trade this summer?
“Someone like New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy, who will enter next season on the second year of his four-year, $112 million deal. He turns 26 on June 18 and has increased his points, rebounds, and assists in each of his first five years in the league,” Patterson wrote.
The Pistons insider suggests Ron Holland II or Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, and future first-round picks would need to be sent to New Orleans to get a deal done. Murphy III has averaged over 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists a game the last two seasons and would be a huge difference maker if acquired.
The biggest issue is where does he play? He may not have the ball-handling to be a shooting guard. So the Pistons would probably have to put him in an undersized but athletic frontcourt with Thompson.
