 The following year, Murphy was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers at the beginning of the as a replacement for Michael Cage, who was a holdout.Murphy played 19 minutes in the opening game of the season but was cut once Cage reagreed to terms with the team.After missing two months with mononucleosis, Murphy then signed with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the remainder of the 1987–88 season.