The New Orleans Pelicans fell prey to a drastic chain of injury reports from all the major players before the 2023 regular season began. However, the franchise seems to have regained its momentum soon after entering the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. The power forward of the Pelicans seems to be the last one on the list to record his debut this season.
Recovering from a knee injury that Trey Murphy III sustained in an off-season workout, Murphy III played his second game of the 2023–24 season against the Sacramento Kings on December 5th, 2023. The star forward amassed a tally of 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist, helping the franchise win the quarterfinals against the Kings, 127-117.
With the claim of being the 10th best-paid player in the franchise this year, as per HoopsHype, “Trey” has a net worth of approximately $14,779,415. Let us dive deep into Murphy’s contract with the Pelicans and his stats.
Trey Murphy’s first NBA contract
The Pelicans signed Trey Murphy, the 1st round and 17th overall pick in the 2021 season, at an average salary of $3,694,854. After signing a contract to play for the franchise for four years, the star forward will become a free agent in 2025. Murphy III already has a base salary of $3,359,280 while carrying a cap hit of $3,359,280.
The player exercised his club option for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons well before deadlines and is all set to face the Los Angeles Lakers on December 7th, 2023. Making 4.76 percent more than his last playing year, the star forward has the potential to amp up the No. 8 ranking of the franchise in the Eastern Conference.
Trey Murphy III; NBA stats
The star forward of the Pelicans is averaging 17 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in the 2023–24 season. Although he missed 19 games this season, the player might hit better scores in the coming games. The pioneer of the future of ‘3-and-D’ role players, Trey Murphy III, turned out to be a very promising player in just his second year with the Pelicans.
The player was drafted with the perspective of slotting him next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Along with all of this, the player is an advocate for deep three-pointers, making sure he stays a couple of steps behind the line to take the shot. His 6’9 height and 7-foot-wide wingspan, along with his quickness, complement his coverage as a player efficient in shot blocking, steals, and charges.
Trey Murphy is a trailblazer with all the skills that he possesses. It’s going to be a feast as the teams put on a fight to get the player once he finishes his contract with the Pelicans.