Thnaks to Chat gpt for summary
Why Memphis does it:
Elite 3-and-D wing next to Ja + Jaren
Trey Murphy is one of the best young shooters in the league and fits PERFECTLY next to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
He gives them both spacing and defense at the wing—something the team has lacked since losing Dillon Brooks.
He’s only 24 and still improving
This is not a win-now rental—Memphis would be paying big draft capital for a long-term core piece.
Clarke is coming off injury
Clarke is great, but after the Achilles tear, the Grizzlies might view Murphy as a far higher long-term upside play.
Konchar is expendable
Good role player, but not essential.
Memphis becomes a top-tier shooting team
With Trey Murphy, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Jaren spacing the floor, Ja would finally have the modern offense he needs.
The Grizzlies’ biggest weakness the last 3 seasons has been half-court scoring, especially when Ja gets doubled.
DeRozan fixes that immediately because he can:
Create his own shot
Draw fouls
Score in isolation
Close games in the 4th quarter
This takes pressure off Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
2️⃣ DeRozan is the veteran scorer they’ve never had
Memphis has always been young. They’ve never had a veteran All-Star scorer who can calm the offense down and get a bucket.
DeRozan brings:
Leadership
Stability
High basketball IQ
Playoff experience
This young roster NEEDS that.
3️⃣ KCP is good, but he’s not a primary scorer
Caldwell-Pope gives you defense and shooting, but he does NOT:
Create his own shot
Run offense
Take over games
Memphis already has strong defenders. What they lack is a midrange killer and shot creator → DeRozan fits perfectly.
4️⃣ They even get a 1st-round pick back
This makes the trade LOW-RISK for Memphis.
They swap role-player KCP for an All-Star scorer and they don’t even lose their pick value. That’s strong value.
5️⃣ It makes them a real contender
Add this to your Trey Murphy trade, and Memphis comes out with:
⭐ Trey Murphy III (young 3-and-D shooter with star upside)
⭐ DeMar DeRozan (veteran closer)
Now your lineup is:
PG — Ja Morant SG — Demar Derorzan SF — Trey Murphy III PF — Jaren Jackson Jr. C — Zach Edey
They would be one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Trey Murphy’s Contract Situation in 2026
By 2026, Trey Murphy has already received (or is about to receive) a big extension, likely in the $25–30M per year range.
The Pelicans in 2026 are dealing with:
A super expensive roster
A tight luxury-tax situation
Pressure to keep Zion healthy and build more balance
Letting go of Trey removes a HUGE upcoming salary. This is a major reason they’d consider the move.
✔ 2️⃣ Pelicans shift focus around Zion (or rebuild if Zion hasn’t stayed healthy)
In 2026, New Orleans has two possible realities:
Scenario A: Zion is healthy
They need a more reliable frontcourt rotation with:
Rim protection
Rebounding
Defense
Brandon Clarke (fully healed by 2026) is a fantastic fit.
Scenario B: Zion has missed another season
New Orleans is ready to pivot, collect picks, and reshape the roster.
Either way, three 1st-round picks gives them major flexibility.
✔ 3️⃣ Clarke is fully recovered (Achilles was back in 2024–25)
By 2026:
Clarke is back in rhythm
He’s again an elite cutter, finisher, and defender
He plays perfectly next to Zion, Ingram, or even if the Pelicans pivot to a new core
This is NOT “injured Clarke.” This is prime-age Clarke.
✔ 4️⃣ They get 3 first-round picks in a time when they may need assets
In 2026 the Pelicans need picks for two main reasons:
Reason A: Prepare for a superstar trade
They could use the 3 Memphis picks to go after:
A franchise PG
A top-tier center
A replacement star if Zion or Ingram moves on
Reason B: Protect the future
After years of expensive contracts, they need cheap rookie-scale talent.
✔ 5️⃣ John Konchar is cheap, reliable depth
By 2026, the Pelicans have multiple players on mid-to-large contracts, so having a low-salary utility wing like Konchar helps balance the cap sheet.
He brings:
Hustle
Defense
Spot shooting
Smart role-playing
Exactly what a cap-tight 2026 team needs.
✔ 6️⃣ Trey Murphy’s role was decreasing due to roster congestion
In 2026 the Pelicans’ wing group is crowded:
Herb Jones
Dyson Daniels
Jordan Hawkins
Brandon Ingram (if still there)
Zion plays forward minutes too
2024 and 2025 draft picks developed by now
Trey may not have the same long-term role, even though he’s talented.
Instead of paying him $120M+, they turn him into:
Clarke
Depth
THREE firsts
That’s strong value in 2026.
⭐ Final Summary — Why Pelicans Do the Trade in 2026
In the 2026 timeline:
✔ Trey Murphy’s big extension makes him expensive ✔ Pelicans either need to reshape around Zion or prepare for a rebuild ✔ Clarke is fully healthy and fits their style ✔ Konchar gives cheap, reliable depth ✔ 3 first-round picks give long-term value and star-trade flexibility
This is a smart 2025 move for the Pelicans.
The Kings are rebuilding or retooling in 2026 (no Fox)
If Fox is no longer on the Kings in your universe, that means:
The Kings are entering a new era
They are younger
They are not contending
They are shifting their timeline to the future
A 37-year-old DeRozan does NOT fit a young/rebuilding team in 2026.
So they trade him for:
A helpful veteran (KCP)
A future first-round pick
This helps their rebuild.
✔ 2️⃣ DeMar DeRozan is too old for the Kings’ new timeline
In 2026, DeRozan is almost 37, and his value is mostly as:
A midrange scorer
A mentor
A short-term piece
He’s not someone a rebuilding team wants to keep.
KCP + a 1st-round pick is better future value.
✔ 3️⃣ The Kings need defense and spacing around their new young core
Since Fox is gone, the Kings likely have:
Younger guards
Developing wings
A rebuild direction
Young teams always need:
Veteran defenders
Locker-room leaders
Role players who don’t dominate the ball
KCP gives them:
Elite perimeter defense
Catch-and-shoot 3-point spacing
Championship experience
A stabilizing presence for younger players
He fits MUCH better than an older, ball-dominant DeRozan.
✔ 4️⃣ The 1st-round pick is the most important part
In 2026, the Kings want assets for the future.
Getting a first-round pick helps them:
Draft young talent
Package picks for bigger trades
Add cheap rookie-scale players
Rebuild faster
A rebuilding team ALWAYS takes picks over an aging star.
✔ 5️⃣ KCP is easier to move later
KCP’s contract and role are much easier to trade than DeRozan’s in 2026.
Even if the Kings don’t keep him long-term, they can later flip KCP for:
Another pick
A young player
A role player that fits their new core
He’s a better trade asset than a 36-year-old DeRozan.