Warriors, Warriors trade, Trey Murphy III, Pelicans
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Head coach Steve Kerr (L) and governor Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors look on during a game between the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2022 NBA Summer League
The Golden State Warriors have reportedly “made calls” to the New Orleans Pelicans about the possibility of acquiring 3-and-D wing Trey Murphy.
While appearing on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” on Sunday, insider Chris Haynes noted that the Warriors recently inquired about Murphy’s availability, amid the Pelicans’ disastrous 5-22 start to the 2025-26 season.
Golden State’s interest in Murphy, one of the NBA’s elite sharpshooting wings, is well documented. The Warriors front office inquired about Murphy’s availability during the offseason, too, per insider Marc Stein, but were categorically shot down.
“Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer,” Stein reported in August. “Yet sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly.”
Pelicans May Chance Stance
Of course, a lot has transpired since the Warriors last checked in on Murphy. For one, the Pelicans are set to miss the playoffs without any viable options to upgrade the roster for next season, given that they don’t own their 2026 first-round pick. Furthermore, they may have found their two building blocks, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, which could make the likes of Murphy, Herb Jones, and other veterans dispensable.
Insiders such as Jake Fischer and The Athletic’s William Guillory have suggested that the Pelicans are a lot more open to moving Murphy and Jones than they were during the offseason. The reasoning, per Guillory, is that they view them as their two best trade chips to potentially get back a 2026 first-round pick and other future draft assets.
“If the Pelicans front office is on a mission to build up its draft capital for the future, its best chance will be seeing what other teams are willing to give up for Murphy and Jones,” Guillory wrote on Dec. 7.
However, they’ve set a very high asking price for both wings, specifically for Murphy, due to his cap-friendly contract, elite athleticism and three-point shooting ability.
“Murphy will have a much higher price tag, and how many teams will be open to giving up that kind of haul for a player who’s probably best suited as a No. 3 scoring option on a really good team?”
Top Warriors Trade Targets
So, what could the Warriors offer in a potential Trey Murphy trade?
The obvious starting point in a package would be Jonathan Kuminga, who has fallen out of Steve Kerr’s rotation, and Buddy Hield, along with at least two first-round draft picks. Unlike some of the other title contenders, the Warriors can offer up to three first-round picks in potential deals, something that could pique the Pelicans’ interest.
Despite Kuminga’s inability to crack Kerr’s rotation, league insiders view him as an excellent trade piece because of the Team Option in his two-year contract. Essentially, a team like the Pelicans could give him a four-month trial run and reassess his future over the 2026 offseason, rather than taking on a long-term contract.
Besides Trey Murphy, the Warriors are expected to pursue Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline. Much like Murphy, MPJ is another excellent movement shooter who can potentially thrive in a Warriors system that is built around Stephen Curry’s gravity and players who excel off the ball.
Porter (75 threes on 40%) and Murphy (67 threes on 36%) rank ninth and 19th, respectively, in three-pointers made through the early goings of the season.