I like the pick...
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I like the pick...
Great pick - I like it!:cool:
I was locked out most of the night but finally in to say WAHOOWA. So thrilled to finally have a UVA player on the Pels and doubly thrilled because I think Trey is a great fit.
Honestly most of us (UVA fans) were pretty surprised to see his meteoric rise up the draft boards only because despite his measurables, it was based on relatively limited minutes and production after only one year. But that said, most of us believed if he had stayed, he would be a top 10 pick next year.. particularly after another year to learn Tony's system.
Team player, smart, quiet and humble, great shooter (if a little streaky), a ton of raw potential. Won't wow you but you'll check the stats after the game and be impressed.
I love this pick. Perfect for what we need. Gives us an elite shooter and makes our defense very versatile having 3-4 guys capable of guarding each others man at anytime. Man if Murphy can be a hit and man that SG position and be a knockdown 3pt shooter while providing good defense then this team will be in good shape.
This group from the starters to bench players looks like it is going to be fun!
Starters - Lonzo/Murphy/BI/Zion/Jonas
Bench - Kira/Didi/NAW/Hart/Naji/Gabriel/Hayes
He'll be a fine rotation player, and I buy the shot. Wouldn't have been my first choice but I'm sure he'll find a way to contribute on the team.
Yeah, dude won't be starting for a few years atleast, but I think he can contribute early as a rotational guy and he provides great spacing and defensive versatility, which are both things we needed.
Good video of Trey's reaction. You'll like this kid.
In the past I have been negative about of many decisions made by the Pelicans front office, especially when it comes to trades and FA acquisitions. So I want to say, I'm really loving the Trey Murphy pick! I think he is exactly what the team needs. A player we can trust to knockdown three pointers and play good defense. I think we got one here.
Yeah I don’t give the Pelicans a “D” like another poster did. I think this will work out nice.
BLESSED TO BE A NEW ORLEANS PELICAN!!!
— Trey (@Treymurphyiii) July 30, 2021
I have been pretty adamant that Murphy would have been a top 10 pick without question if he was one year younger. He probably would have challenged for the top 5.
I think it was time that we picked an old guy. We've taken 3 swings in the last 3 drafts, and they all seem to be able to play. Now it's time to start getting some contributors and shooters on rookie deals.
Trey Murphy III on playing with @ZionWilliamson pic.twitter.com/wbbkzT4mJw
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 30, 2021
Trey Murphy III on why he is excited about coming to New Orleans pic.twitter.com/W8PHpinBl8
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 30, 2021
Trey Murphy III on being drafted by the Pelicans pic.twitter.com/DtXTOoueAF
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 30, 2021
Transcriptions of those vids:
Murphy on playing with Zion:
''When someone has gravity like that and they're able to pass so well and see the floor, makes it so much easier for guys like me. I feel like my cutting ability is something that's going to be beneficial to Zion. My man might be ballwatching and I can cut backdoor and get a dunk, or spotting up at the 3 point line and be able to space the floor for him is pretty important. So, I'm really excited to play with all the guys but especially someone with a polarising gravity like him.''
Murphy on excitement surrounding New Orleans
''Really, just speaking basketball wise, you have guys like Zion and Brandon Ingram, they're going to attract one and a half guys. So when I'm able to help space the floor and give those guys even more room to operate, if my man goes to help they're able to kick out and it's a knock down three, so looking at that aspect and then being around a team that's a young core it brings a lot of life to the city. As well as, you know, there's a lot of energy on the court and in the arena, so I'm really excited to get on the court with those guys.''
Murphy on being drafted by the Pelicans
''Well, the Pelicans have always showed me a lot of love throughout the process, and my agent was telling me ''the Pelicans really like you a lot so they're moving back to 17'' was pretty good for my case. They were saying I was in pretty good standing going into the draft so I had a pretty good feeling about New Orleans at 17 when it came to that time and then I got the call from my agent and I knew what time it was.''
Watch Live: Trey Murphy III#Pelicans | @Verizon
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 30, 2021
https://t.co/8LMUSoAL3l
Here's the full video. He comes across extremely well in this. Here's some more transcription:
Tell us about your game
''I always try to do everything on the court and I want ot make sure that I don't have any deficiencies in my game. Playing defense was something I didn't do my entire life to be honest with you but going to Virginia you have to play defense so I took a lot of pride in it, being there, and we repped it out a lot and I became a much better defender and now I enjoy playing defense a lot. So I know that'll be something that will keep me on the floor, obviously my shooting will get me there but keeping me on the floor will be my defense.''
How much did Virginia's reputation for defense influence your decision to transfer there?
''It was probably a top 3 reason for why I went to Virginia. I knew that if I wanted to become a better NBA prospect I would have to defend at a higher level so going to the best defensive school in America was my best option. And then playing in ACC country, where I grew up my entire life, made it a much easier decision.''
Thoughts on the city
''I love food. So that's something that will be very appealing to me, I'm very excited for the beignets and the gumbo. I'm not going to eat it too much because it's obviously not the healthiest thing to eat but I'll be getting my fair share.''
Last 24 hours for you
''In all honesty, I was very calm the entire day. I wasn't really nervous but then when it got to about 7:50 or so and I saw the draft on the TV screen that's when I started getting nervous, I was doing a little foot tap and all that. I didn't really have any control over the situation so there was no reason to be nervous but it's something you look forward to your entire life so it's a dream come true.''
You were 5'8 as a highschool freshman. When did you think the NBA was a realistic thing for you?
''My sophomore year in college. Pretty late, it was pretty late.''
Do you think you can guard 1-4?
''100%, I definitely think I can guard 1-4. What it takes to be successful is that you have to watch a lot of film, which I really enjoy, and you have to give a lot of effort. But at the end of the day it's basketball, your job on defense is just to make it tough, make them make tough shots, and sometimes you just have to live with that and I feel like I'm going to make it tough on every single person I guard.''
"Polarizing gravity"? i know he went to Rice and UVa, but sheesh...
I am intrigued by our picks. While I’m not sure on our plans for Herby fully loaded this year, both of them theoretically can make an impact defensively from the bench and I can see Murphy being a useful rookie offensively. If we are going all out to bring in vet help at PG and maybe bring back Hart, Murphy makes much more sense as the pick here. Maybe a reach, but it is what it is and I’d like both guys to do well.
Very much an aside, but I really hate how the NBA has these kids being drafted by the teams that aren't really drafting them. I get the why of it happening. I know it's because trades can't be finalized, yet. But they need to be. That vid should say he was drafted by New Orleans. He should be putting on a Pels hat. Make that moment special.
And HOLY WOW on that Herby Fully Loaded reference, JJ. Haha. Blast from the past.
Yea I agree. He is a 6’9 SG who is athletic and actually plays defense. With those shooting numbers being very good he easily could have been a top 10 pick. His only real issue I see is not being a great shot creator. The good thing is that is one of the last things I think we need is someone who needs the ball more. We don’t need a 3rd dominant ball handler and scorer like Zion and Ingram but someone who can create a lot of space and make his shots. He will make life easier on our best players by making teams pay when they try to double.
No I think he’s a SG/SF. No way is he a tweener as a PF. Now I could see us run lineups at times where he is in there with a group of guys where you could say a few are the “PF” in the lineup. Calling him a SF/PF tweener is like falling Ingram a SF/PF tweener. Harris and Covington have much different builds and skill sets.
That's a really good point. Trey won't be the one demanding the ball. He'll come in humble, grateful for the opportunity, and trying to make his teammates better & find his place. If he can become a consistent shot-maker, it'll draw defenders away from Zion and Ingram and give them the space they need. I do have a concern about him being aggressive enough on the offensive end to create his own shot.. that is not his strength. But we won't really need him to do that.
Yes it is so stupid and IMO kind of ruins that night for that player. Knowing you are going to New Orleans but having it announced on TV as being drafted by the Grizzlies. Not only that but they don’t even mention the pick being traded or anything. It makes absolutely no sense and I’m very surprised Silver hasn’t made a change to it.
Yea in the video he even talks how he’s excited to come in and help guys like Zion by hitting the open shots when he passes it to him. Also how Zion and Ingram take 1 1/2 guys to guard so he can take advantage of that. So he sounds like he already knows his role. Eventually I think he has the ability to take people off true dribble and would like him to so people respect it but it’s not something we need badly.
Based on his height that is true, but the Pelicans are built around Zion at PF and Ingram at SF. The Pelicans need 2 main things out of the SG, knock down spot up shots from the perimeter and play great defense. If Murphy is the guy to do those two things, then he can fit on the floor with Ingram, Zion, and Valanciunas. That's where the opportunity to contribute is on this team.
I don't believe in Zion point guard
Cooper and Zion would have been money
I always find it really weird when people talk about Zion on the ball as a gimmick or a joke, when running it gave us the leagues best offense (as in, we were literally the Number 1 offensive rating in the league for like 5 weeks there). We went 16-8 in the 24 games where Zion had at least 5 assists this year, and it wasn't just against scrub teams: we beat the Clippers twice, Bucks, Sixers, Suns, Mavs, Nets, Pacers, and Jazz in those games.
Not saying Zion needs to be on the ball 100% of the time (he absolutely does not) but I think people see it as a gimmick literally just because of the point Zion name. If nobody had ever said Point Zion, and instead we just talked about allowing our best player to play on-ball more, nobody would see it as controversial.
Someone said Murphy is going to be a SG, I (and some others) disagreed and said he's more likely going to be a forward given his size and movement skills, so someone brought up him actually playing SG because Zion is PF, so someone else was like ''but what about when Zion is PG!'' and other people were like - pshhht forget that gimmick! And here we are.
I know, which is why I'm saying we should stop calling it Point Zion and just call it ''putting your best player on ball more''.
I'm very sceptical of Murphy's ability to guard top level NBA 1s, though obviously it would be nice. I think he's more of a 3 position guy (SG/SF/PF) in defense, which is not a bad thing at all and still can be very valuable. I think with the exception of Houston's absurd mega small lineups where everyone was 6'6/6'7, that's what Robert Covington is and he's extremely valuable.
Will Murphy ever be as top tier a defender as Covington? Hard to say, Covington is/was (he's fallen off a bit) absurdly incredible at team defense, but the fact that the potential is there is good to me. I'm looking forward to seeing how Murphy fits into the league, I think he'll be good.
I cant believe people still talk about positions in 2021
When we go into 'Point Zion Mode', there are four more spectators in the arena.