With the New Orleans Pelicans' season coming to a close and the focus shifting to the 2026-27 campaign, it's time to talk next steps for one of the team's biggest stars. In the clutch, the Pelicans have struggled. There's no question about it, and while things have gotten better with Dejounte Murray returning, the team needs another option to go to in clutch situations.
Saddiq Bey has had games where he takes over and carries New Orleans down this stretch, but his skillset still limits him from being a consistent, closing threat. So who else can step up in that role? Trey Murphy III.
Murphy III has had his moments in closing stretches of different games this season, but has struggled with being a consistent option in those situations. If he can figure that part of his game out, it won't just help the Pelicans reach a new level but also help him reach a new tier of player.
The next step for Trey is becoming a clutch scorer
Murphy III is a bona fide 20-point-per-game scorer who can create his own shot off the bounce, score off the catch, make the right read as an initiator, and hold his own on the glass and on the defensive side of the ball. He is the perfect complementary wing for the modern NBA, but for him to take the next step as a player, he needs to become a late-clock/late-game scorer. He has all the tools to make it possible with his three-point shooting and downhill scoring—it's just about aggressiveness and a desire to get the ball in those situations.
Taking the pressure off Murray in these situations will only benefit the Pelicans, as in clutch scenarios, the offense becomes very one-dimensional. Adding another dynamic scorer to the mix will definitely help New Orleans flip the narrative on their late-game struggles and make them a team that doesn't get beat in the clutch.
Murphy III also needs to take this step for himself because if he ever wants to be in All-Star conversations down the road, he has to kick into another gear.
What separates good teams from those stuck in the middle of the pack is clutch scoring. The Pelicans have the talent to hold their own for the first 43 minutes between Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Bey, Murray, and Murphy III. But when that clutch time comes, something is missing. Zion is too easy to scheme against because almost all his scoring comes from one area. Bey, as mentioned earlier, has a somewhat limited skill set, and Murray is capable but needs someone to lighten his load.
Murphy III has the versatile skill set to be that guy, and the Pelicans need to figure out how to unlock it so 2026-27 isn't another season of the Pelicans struggling to close games.