New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft grades: Pels have a huge night
New Orleans Pelicans Draft Grades: Pick no. 17- Trey Murphy III
A. . Shooting guard/wing. New Orleans Pelicans. TREY MURPHY III
I was ecstatic when Trey Murphy III fell to the New Orleans Pelicans with the 17th pick, as I had him as one of my top prospects for them.
Prior to the draft and all of the trades, Murphy was a guy I thought the Pelicans should try to trade up for, as he has all of the elements to be a quality 3-and-D wing in the NBA and fills a number of holes.
Murphy has great size and length for the position at 6-foot-9 and has played both shooting guard and on the wing, so he can slide into a number of lineups fo the Pelicans.
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He shot over 43 percent from 3-point range in his final season at Virginia and he can also defend his position well, which should be a big help for the Pelicans, who lack depth and defense on the wing.
Murphy was a junior this season, so he is 21-years-old and should be able to contribute right away off the Pelicans’ bench.
I think this guy has a chance to be one of the steals of the NBA Draft, a true 3-and-D prospect with size who should fit right in with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
This was a home run pick for David Griffin, who needed one after a few lackluster drafts.