Celtics eye – As Brad Stevens pursues a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Boston Celtics are reportedly also exploring a pivot: Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III could become an option if the Bucks star isn’t attainable.
Boston’s offseason chase is built around one name—Giannis Antetokounmpo—but the Celtics’ front office is still mapping routes if the prize slips away.
League interest around the Bucks superstar has been a throughline for much of the summer. with Brad Stevens leaving no stone unturned in an effort to reshape Boston’s roster. And if the Celtics come up short in that sweepstakes. they have a potential alternative lined up: Trey Murphy III. the New Orleans Pelicans’ athletic 6-foot-9 wing.
The possibility is tied to timing and market movement in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have been linked to Antetokounmpo, and they’re also said to have interest in Minnesota center Rudy Gobert. But Murphy—especially if another East team such as the Miami Heat ends up landing Antetokounmpo—could be the kind of high-upside wing Boston turns to next.
One reason Murphy fits is that Boston has leaned hard into three-point shooting in recent years. Murphy would slot into that identity as a wing who can create spacing from outside. League sources say the Celtics are among the many teams with interest in Murphy if they don’t land Antetokounmpo.
Murphy hasn’t had the same mainstream halo as a superstar, but his production has earned attention. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists last season in New Orleans. He was also praised for defensive versatility. with his mix of athleticism and the ability to function as a 6-foot-9 wing. His shooting profile has been a major part of his appeal from Boston’s perspective. including strong marks from three-point range and nearly 90% at the free-throw line.
Across five NBA seasons, Murphy has a career shooting percentage of 38.2, and he’s averaged 8.6 three-point attempts per game in 2025-26. He’s also under contract for another three seasons and is set to make $27 million in 2026-27.
That contract detail matters in a league where “fit” and “price” tend to collide. It also matters given the Celtics’ coaching style. Murphy’s shooting touch would seemingly make him a strong fit for a 3-heavy team coached by Joe Mazzulla.
Murphy’s name has surfaced in Celtics discussions more than once. Bill Simmons. in a late-month comment on his podcast. said Boston was a possibility and suggested Murphy could be moved within a narrow window. “We assume he’s probably going to get traded over the next three weeks,” Simmons said on his podcast. He added, “I think Boston is a possibility. We thought whoever lost this matchup [between the Spurs and Thunder was] a possibility. You have 2-3 weeks to trade for someone like that.”.
The trade logic is straightforward: while Antetokounmpo would likely become viable only if Boston dealt away Jaylen Brown. Murphy may be easier to acquire without forcing that same kind of centerpiece swap. Unlike the Bucks superstar. Murphy could be pulled from New Orleans as part of a package involving multiple first-round picks or outright pick swaps.
That would also open the door for Boston to use the assets it already has. The reported framework includes potential involvement of players such as Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and others.
The movement doesn’t feel like a fallback plan in name only. It’s the kind of parallel track a contender needs when one deal depends on another team’s willingness to move.
The question now is whether the Celtics can land Antetokounmpo in the time Brad Stevens has been working toward—or whether Boston’s attention shifts to Murphy III as the most workable way to keep its offense spacing-driven while upgrades to the frontcourt remain the priority.
Boston Celtics Brad Stevens Giannis Antetokounmpo Trey Murphy III New Orleans Pelicans Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors Joe Mazzulla Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Rudy Gobert