{"id":317512,"date":"2025-11-30T00:28:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T00:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/317512\/"},"modified":"2025-11-30T00:28:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T00:28:12","slug":"celtics-floated-in-blockbuster-move-for-breakout-western-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/317512\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics Floated in Blockbuster Move for Breakout Western Star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Celtics-Porzingis-Daniel-Gafford-Anfrenee-Simons.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Brad Stevens\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics may have more trades up his sleeve.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/boston-celtics\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Celtics<\/a> are starting to feel like themselves again. They climbed back above .500 at <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/boston-celtics\/#season_schedule\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">10-8<\/a> and just snapped the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/detroit-pistons\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Pistons<\/a>\u2019 13 game win streak with a <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/boston-celtics\/#season_schedule\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">117-114 win at TD Garden<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jaylen-brown\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jaylen Brown<\/a> is playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jaylen-brown\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">31.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals<\/a> over his last five outings. Boston is stabilising and finding rhythm, but the long term question still hangs over everything. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jayson-tatum\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> is recovering, Brown is carrying the load, and the front office continues to evaluate players who might strengthen the next championship window.<\/p>\n<p>A recent trade idea from <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DSpJ0Y1eey8?si=d_0V8l1yTUYy66Hn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Bill Simmons<\/a> brought that conversation back into focus. On his podcast, Simmons floated the possibility of the Celtics pursuing a rising star in the West. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/new-orleans-pelicans\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> forward <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/trey-murphy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trey Murphy III<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trey Murphy III 41 points on 15\/22 <\/p>\n<p>The Trey Murphy Idea for Boston<\/p>\n<p>On a recent episode of <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DSpJ0Y1eey8?si=d_0V8l1yTUYy66Hn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">The Bill Simmons Podcast<\/a>, Simmons outlined a framework he believes Boston should at least consider. The idea centered around using <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/anfernee-simons\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anfernee Simons<\/a>\u2019 expiring deal, rookie wing <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/hugo-gonzalez\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hugo Gonzalez<\/a>, and a package of future first round picks and swaps. It was presented as an offer that might make New Orleans think.<\/p>\n<p>Celtics would receive:<\/p>\n<p>Trey Murphy III<\/p>\n<p>Pelicans would receive:<\/p>\n<p>Anfernee Simons<\/p>\n<p>Hugo Gonzalez<\/p>\n<p>Future first round picks and swaps<\/p>\n<p>Murphy is averaging <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/trey-murphy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">19.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals<\/a> while shooting efficiently across the board. His 25 million dollar annual salary fits cleanly into Boston\u2019s books when paired with Simons\u2019 expiring contract. In a league where wings with size, shooting, and defensive range are among the most valuable archetypes, his availability would draw immediate interest.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"232\" data-end=\"581\">Murphy\u2019s production only tells part of the story. His ceiling is viewed as one of the most intriguing among young wings in the league. Already a plus defender, a confident shooter and an explosive finisher, he has expanded his game every season. That growth makes him more than a clean fit. In the right environment, he could make a meaningful jump.<\/p>\n<p>That potential is not overlooked by players around the league. Coaches and stars talk about him like someone who could take another step, and Boston would understand the value of acquiring him before that leap happens.<\/p>\n<p>Jayson Tatum with Tyrese Haliburton and Trey Murphy III last night <\/p>\n<p>What the Celtics Would Be Giving Up<\/p>\n<p>Anfernee Simons has been a steady scoring presence off the bench and his expiring deal gives Boston important flexibility as they prepare for future roster decisions. Gonzalez is young and still developing, but he has shown flashes that suggest long term value. Moving multiple first round picks adds another layer of hesitation, especially for a front office that values cost controlled talent.<\/p>\n<p>That is why the cost would not be small. Teams see Murphy as a player who could outplay his contract if his development continues on its current path. If the Pelicans ever opened the door on trade conversations, the bidding would be competitive.<\/p>\n<p>The question is whether Murphy raises Boston\u2019s ceiling enough to justify the package. It is a steep price, but he adds length, athleticism, transition scoring, and another defender who can guard across positions. His shooting and off ball movement would ease pressure on Brown and Tatum, who currently carry a significant portion of the creation workload.<\/p>\n<p>Why Murphy Fits the Celtics<\/p>\n<p>Even without Tatum available, Boston has carved out a clear identity. They defend, they move the ball, and they lean heavily on the playmaking of Brown and <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/derrick-white\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Derrick White<\/a>. Murphy would sharpen all of those strengths. He does not need touches to impact games. He cuts, rebounds, switches, and hits open shots. His game elevates star wings rather than complicating roles.<\/p>\n<p>His fit also connects to a moment from last year\u2019s All Star break. Murphy interviewed Tatum pregame, and as the segment wrapped up, Tatum asked him, \u201cYou gonna be here next year?\u201d Murphy smiled and said, \u201cYeah, yeah.\u201d Tatum replied, \u201cYou heard it here first. He gonna be here next year in the big game.\u201d It was a small exchange, but it showed how the league\u2019s best view Murphy as someone built for that stage.<\/p>\n<p>At 25, Murphy lines up cleanly with the core they want for the next half decade. His contract structure helps, his production helps, and his profile fits what Boston has prioritised for years.<\/p>\n<p>Jayson Tatum tells Player Correspondent Trey Murphy III what it means to be in his 6th <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBAAllStar?src=hashtag_click\">#NBAAllStar<\/a> Game at 26 years old \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n<p>Follow along from practice with Murphy \u2935\ufe0f<br \/>\n<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow external\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9okRcAojpu\">t.co\/9okRcAojpu<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Where the Celtics Stand<\/p>\n<p>Boston is not acting from a place of urgency. They are winning again, the rotation is settling, and Brown is guiding the offense with confidence. But the front office always keeps an eye on opportunities that might strengthen the future. Murphy fits that category.<\/p>\n<p>Simmons put the idea out there, and it will stay around as long as Boston continues thinking about the next version of this roster. Nothing about it forces action, but everything about it fits their style.<\/p>\n<p>A 25-year-old wing with size, shooting, and real room to grow is never dismissed quickly. And for a team balancing the present with what comes next, Murphy is the type of possibility that never fully leaves the board.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/keithwatkinsnba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Celtics\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics may have more trades up his sleeve. The Boston Celtics are&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":317513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-317512","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-basketball","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/317513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}