The Indiana front office has placed Trey Murphy III on its trade board as the offseason begins. At 25, the New Orleans forward has developed into a 20-plus point scorer and an All-Star candidate. Indiana appears ready to send out a package of players and future first-round picks to acquire him. Detroit has also shown interest. New Orleans has signaled it will demand significant value in return.

Murphy's contract sets the framework for any deal. He signed a five-year, $112 million extension before this season and is owed three years and $87 million. That money will push Indiana deeper into the luxury tax. In the 2024-25 season Murphy averaged just over 20 points per game while shooting efficiently from three-point range and working effectively off the ball. The Pacers continue to adjust after Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles rupture in the 2025 NBA Finals. They added center Ivica Zubac in a February deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that cost them their 2025 first-round pick.

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Andrew Nembhard stands as the likely centerpiece of any offer for Murphy. Versatile wing Aaron Nesmith or forward Jarace Walker would probably join him to balance salary. From a tactical perspective Murphy would supply the perimeter shooting the Pacers have missed without Haliburton. His ability to stretch the floor pairs naturally with Zubac's interior scoring and rebounding to create pick-and-pop opportunities. That spacing could open driving lanes for a backcourt still finding its rhythm after the injury.

The proposed trade continues Indiana's pattern of adding proven talent while preserving long-term flexibility. After surrendering this year's first-round selection in the Zubac deal, the Pacers retained all future first-round picks through the end of the decade. Offering unprotected selections in 2027 and 2029 alongside Nembhard would give New Orleans the draft capital it seeks. Such a return could accelerate the Pelicans' own rebuild while giving the Pacers a ready-made scorer for the 2026-27 season when Haliburton is expected to return to full strength.

Murphy's two-way potential would also ease the defensive load on Indiana's young wings. His length and instincts at the point of attack complement Myles Turner's rim protection and allow the frontcourt to switch more aggressively on the perimeter. The addition creates a more balanced roster that no longer depends on a single primary creator. Instead the Pacers could deploy multiple actions that flow through Zubac's passing, Murphy's shooting, and the guard play of returning pieces.

The coming weeks will test whether Indiana can complete the deal once the league's trade moratorium ends in early July. A package centered on Nembhard, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick could satisfy New Orleans and be finalized quickly. If talks stall, the Pacers can refocus on internal development and the assets already in house. Either outcome will set the foundation for a 2026-27 campaign built around a healthy Haliburton and a deeper supporting cast.