Pelicans small forward Trey Murphy III out long term

According to Ameer Tyree of CBS Sports on Friday, New Orleans Pelicans small forward Trey Murphy Jr. of Durham, North Carolina is out long term with a torn meniscus. The 23-year-old suffered the injury during a workout and is not slated to return to the Pelicans until late November. That will force him to miss the first month of the season.

In 2022-23, Murphy III averaged 14.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, and 1.12 steals per game. He had a field goal percentage of .484, a three-point percentage of .406, and a free throw percentage of .905.

Murphy III had the best game of his National Basketball Association career this past season. It came on March 12, 2023 in a 127-110 Pelicans win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Murphy III had a career-high 41 points and was a eye-popping +44. He also made 13 of 20 field goals, nine of 14 three-point attempts and all six free throw shots.

This is Murphy III’s third season with New Orleans. He was originally the Memphis Grizzlies’s first round pick, 17th overall, in the 2021 NBA Draft. Murphy III was then traded to the Pelicans in the blockbuster deal that involved Jonas Valanciunas of Utena, Lithuania on August 7, 2021.

Having healthy players on their roster has been a serious problem for the Pelicans in recent years. Their face of the franchise, Zion Williamson of Salisbury, North Carolina has had a hamstring strain, torn meniscus in his right knee, and a foot injury in the first four seasons in his NBA career. Meanwhile, Brandon Ingram only played 45 games with various injuries.

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