DEAL IN FINAL STAGE: Miami Heat President Of Basketball Operations, Pat Riley Announces The Official Trade For New Orleans Pelicans 24-Year-Old Multi-Talented Standout Forward Trey Murphy III, Signing Him To A Four-Year $112 Million Deal. To Provide Consistent Scoring And Shooting, Forming A Big 3 With Bam Adebayo And Jimmy Butler
By Miami Sports Wire Staff – June 30, 2025
In what is already being hailed as one of the most pivotal offseason moves in recent years, Miami Heat President of Basketball Operations, Pat Riley, has pulled off a major acquisition that could reshape the Eastern Conference landscape. The Heat have officially completed a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, acquiring 24-year-old rising star Trey Murphy III. The deal, finalized late Sunday evening, sends Murphy to South Beach in exchange for a package of draft picks and young players, with Murphy immediately agreeing to a four-year, $112 million contract extension to remain with Miami long-term.
The move signals Miami’s aggressive approach to retooling its roster around its veteran core of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The addition of Murphy, known for his elite shooting, length, and defensive versatility, gives the Heat a dynamic third scoring option and addresses one of the team’s most glaring needs: consistent perimeter shooting and offensive spacing.
A Seamless Fit in Miami
Trey Murphy III is coming off a breakout season with the Pelicans, where he averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 40.6% from three-point range. His combination of size (6’9”), athleticism, and shooting efficiency makes him a prototypical modern NBA wing. Riley praised Murphy’s all-around game and maturity during Monday’s press conference.
> “Trey is the kind of player we’ve been targeting—young, versatile, hungry, and battle-tested,” Riley said. “He can shoot it, defend multiple positions, and play with or without the ball. That’s the kind of player you want next to Jimmy and Bam.”
Murphy also brings postseason experience, having played pivotal minutes in the Pelicans’ 2024 playoff run. Though New Orleans fell short of making a deep run, Murphy proved his mettle in big moments, often guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player while still knocking down timely shots.
The New Big 3: Butler, Adebayo, Murphy
For the Heat, the acquisition of Murphy signals a new iteration of a “Big 3” era. While Jimmy Butler remains the face of the franchise, turning 36 this season, his window for a title run is narrowing. Bam Adebayo, a three-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year finalist, continues to anchor Miami’s interior and provide elite two-way production.
Now, with Murphy onboard, the Heat have a three-headed core that offers balance on both ends of the court. Murphy’s ability to space the floor and defend wings gives Miami tactical flexibility, and should lessen the offensive burden on Butler in crunch-time situations.