Rockets should sell the farm to get this undervalued future star

The Houston Rockets should pry Trey Murphy III away from the Pelicans to be their superstar. This follows a blueprint used by the Thunder, Pacers, and Knicks, which are the final three teams remaining in the playoffs this year. OKC got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander before he fully blossomed. The Knicks signed Jalen Brunson before his superstar breakout, and Tyrese Haliburton was sharing the ball with De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento. It was not until they found themselves in their current situations that they reached a new level.

The Rockets are all-in on upgrading after losing in the first round of the playoffs. They do not need another top-ten draft pick. Houston has a talented young core and is chasing a star. They could deplete their war chest of assets for Giannis or target a player on the verge of blossoming like Murphy.

The Pelicans have a new front office led by Joe Dumars and are rumored to have everyone available. This could be the Rockets chance to add a 25-year-old and watch him grow into a franchise player around their young core.

The Rockets should go get Trey Murphy III

Murphy averaged 22.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals over 38 games from Dec. 19 until a shoulder injury ended his season in March. This is coming from a career 38.3 percent 3-point shooter who has improved every year. The 24-year-old is just entering his prime and has superstar upside.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is 30 years old and not on the timeline of the Rockets stars. Murphy is the perfect fit in age and would cost significantly less. If the Pelicans are willing to move on, Houston may only have to part with the tenth pick in this year's draft, some young talent, and one future first. Even if it is viewed as an overpay at the moment, Murphy’s continued improvement will flip the narrative.

Getting a 6’8 wing with two-way potential that has not reached his peak is the ideal scenario for the Rockets. They will have to gamble he blossoms into a superstar like the Thunder, Knicks, and Pacers did to get their elite talents. It is a risk, but teams do not win a championship without taking them.

Murphy showed the ability to scale up his offensive role this season and there is more growth to come. He is still developing his pull-up and pick-and-roll games. The 24-year-old got more opportunities and showed he can score 20 every night. That is no small leap. Now, he needs to round out his game to become an All-Star.

The Houston Rockets should be all-in on Trey Murphy III. Getting a 6’8 wing with massive two-way potential on their timeline could be a game-changer. It would allow them to move away from Fred VanVleet and have a marquee talent locked in for $112 million over the next four years. That is a massive discount if he blossoms into an alpha and would allow the Rockets to keep their talented young core together.

This would be a bold move and could backfire, but the Rockets need a missing piece. If Murphy is the answer, Houston quickly becomes a title contender with a long pathway to staying near the top. The juice is definitely worth the squeeze.