On rookie extension deadline day, the New Orleans Pelicans locked up one of their young stars. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Trey Murphy III and the Pels have agreed to a four-year, $112 million contract extension. Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported that the deal will begin in the 2025-2026 season and will not include a player option.
Murphy, 24, was taken by the Pels with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He is a three-point marksman who has the right skillset to fit in with Zion Williamson, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray, especially as his defense has improved every season has gotten better and better. During the 2023-2024 season, Murphy averaged 14.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44.3% from the floor and 38% on three-pointers.
Murphy becomes the fifth player from the 2021 draft to sign a rookie-scale extension before Monday’s deadline at 6:00 PM ET. Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors and Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic all signed their rookie max extension deals in July.
