Core Pelicans Wing Signed To Huge New Extension

The New Orleans Pelicans and sharpshooting forward Trey Murphy III have agreed to a massive contract extension.

Murphy has signed a four-year, $112 million rookie contract extension.

The deal includes no incentives and no player option.

Trey Murphy III #25 of the New Orleans Pelicans and CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans stand on the court during the first quarter of an NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at... Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

The extension would keep Murphy in New Orleans for the next five seasons.

During the offseason, Murphy was mentioned as a potential trade target for the New York Knicks over the offseason, but Ian Begley of SNY denied those rumors.

"The Pelicans have been signaling for a while that they value Murphy III highly and see him as a vital part of the future. So it would be surprising to see New Orleans move Murphy III for a package involving Mitchell Robinson. I don't say that to slight Robinson. ... I just don't think moving him could bring back a player like Murphy III," Begley wrote at the time.

Although the contract is huge and Murphy will be a big part of what the Pelcians do this season, he is expected to miss the start of the 2024-25 season due to a hamstring injury. He suffered the hamstring injury in practice, but once he gets healthy, he should be able to plug in and continue to be one of the top 3-and-D wings in the league.

The 24-year-old is coming off the best season of his young career. He averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.9 steals while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.

Murphy has been huge for the Pelicans since entering the league in 2021. He is a career 39.2 percent shooter from three and stands at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan.

The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Murphy with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but he was traded to the Pelicans. He's improved every single season. Throughout his career, he has averaged 11.8 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from three in 198 games and 89 starts.

This season, Murphy will play a vital role for a team who have high hopes in a tough Western Conference. The Pelicans improve this offseason by trading for All-Star guard DejounteMurray.

The Pelicans are ready to take the next step, and they'll need all their core player, like Murphy, to be available and ready to step up when called upon.

New Orleans will open up their season at home on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls.

More news: Warriors Sign Rising Star to Long-Term Extension

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