Oddsmakers have the Nuggets as favorites to add an intriguing role player

The Denver Nuggets put up a valiant effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Conference Semifinals as they took the eventual Western Conference Champions to a Game 7, but eventually fell short because they didn’t have the depth to match the No. 1 seed. The story of the offseason for Denver will be finding a way to re-tool the roster to give Nikola Jokic more help, and that starts with more 3-point shooting.

The New Orleans Pelicans have some role players who could be a good fit on the Nuggets’ roster, and recent reports have said that they are willing to gauge the market on anyone on the team.

The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have any untouchable players on their roster, per @KevinOConnorNBA

“There are no untouchables in New Orleans. League sources say the Pelicans are gauging the market for everyone on their roster. They very well could end up keeping their core… pic.twitter.com/gdDoUjNFwq

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 30, 2025

Trey Murphy III is one of the top players on the Pelicans, and Nuggets fans should be familiar after he torched them in the last two times he faced them, including a 41-point, eight 3-pointer explosion back in early February. His style of play would be a huge boost to the Nuggets offense next to Nikola Jokic, especially if Denver can swap him in a trade for Michael Porter Jr., who has been rumored as a name that could possibly not be in the Mile High City when the season starts. Murphy can shoot the lights out of the ball, but also has the length and skillset to drive and attack the rim.

Trey Murphy III 41 on 13/21 (24 in Q3) pic.twitter.com/uYxNq2kLrS

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) February 4, 2025

The books have the Nuggets as the odds-on favorite to land the 6-foot-8 wing this offseason, sitting at +500 odds. Murphy had the best season of his four-year career so far this season, averaging 21.7 points per game in 35 minutes a night. However, a torn labrum that he suffered back in mid-March limited his season to just 53 games.

The Denver Nuggets are the favorites to land Trey Murphy III, per @BovadaOfficial

Denver Nuggets +500
Indiana Pacers +700
San Antonio Spurs +700
Detroit Pistons +750
Los Angeles Clippers +800
Los Angeles Lakers +850
Miami Heat +900
Toronto Raptors +1200
Boston Celtics +1400… pic.twitter.com/6DgYsYya7v

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 1, 2025

Murphy is set to have his rookie extension kick in next season, a 4-year, $112 million contract. The deal will only make him the 75th-highest paid player in the association in the 2025-26 season, while Porter is the 38th-highest. There is a trade restriction on the deal, which doesn’t allow him to be traded until July 1 of this year, which shouldn’t be an issue for anyone looking to acquire the sharpshooter.

Given the fact that Denver has control over a minimal amount of their own picks, a third team would most likely be needed to help facilitate the trade once Murphy’s new contract takes shape later in the summer.

Nuggets President Josh Kroenke recently said that he heard Jokic’s frustrations about the depth the Nuggets lacked after their season ended. While Murphy wouldn’t necessarily add depth to Denver’s roster, he would be a seamless fit next to Jokic in the starting lineup that came so close to taking down the Thunder. If Murphy has too steep of a price tag for Denver to acquire, his teammate Herb Jones could be another name to watch on the trade block.

Related

Nuggets sign six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozanJokic continues dominance of Wemby as Serbia edges France in exhibition thrillerNikola Jokic on Peyton Watson trade: ‘It’s gonna be okay’ESPN gives Nuggets near failing grade for Peyton Watson tradeNuggets cheap out, ship Peyton Watson to ClevelandAltitude unveils new Nuggets broadcast team