Trey Murphy III Finally Cleared to Play Monday, Pelicans Offense Rejoices

Trey Murphy III is officially off the injury report and available to play on Monday, which is the best news the New Orleans Pelicans have heard in weeks.

Looking at Murphy's recent injury log is like reading the side effects of a prescription drug commercial. Over the last couple of years, he has popped up on the report for his knee, ankle, neck, shoulder, back, and hamstring. The man has been collecting ailments like they are trading cards, but his latest knee issue is finally in the rearview mirror.

"Underdog NBA tweeted: 'Trey Murphy III (knee) listed available to play Monday.'"

The Pelicans desperately need him back on the floor. Murphy is averaging 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds this season, and his absence has turned the New Orleans offense into a completely unwatchable product.

During a recent stretch without him, the Pelicans dropped five straight games and posted a miserable 105.5 offensive rating. You do not need an advanced analytics degree to know that scoring 105 points in the modern NBA is a guaranteed way to be down by 20 before the fourth quarter even starts.

For anyone sweating over fantasy basketball lineups or looking at Monday game lines, Murphy being active completely changes the geometry of the court. His ability to space the floor gives the rest of the roster room to actually breathe.

We will see if New Orleans puts him on a minutes restriction right out of the gate. For now, just having him in uniform is a massive win, provided the rest of his joints decide to cooperate for the rest of the week.