Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry
Getty
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) and superstar point guard Stephen Curry (right).
The Golden State Warriors have been quiet so far this offseason, but the speculation hasn’t stopped. The team continues to be linked to trade targets across the league, with Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans emerging as a name to watch.
NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that Golden State has a “strong affinity” for the 6’8” forward, who is coming off his best season yet. Murphy averaged 21.2 points per game in 2024–25, shooting 36.1% from deep and logging heavy minutes as a reliable starter. At just 25 years old, he looks like the type of player who could reshape the Warriors’ future.
Could the Warriors Go All-In?
Peter O’Keefe of Blue Man Hoops recently floated a four-team blockbuster idea that would send Murphy to Golden State. The deal is steep, but it underscores just how valuable the young forward has become.
Proposed trade:
Warriors receive: Trey Murphy III
Pelicans receive:Moses Moody, Nick Richards, Haywood Highsmith, 2026, 2028, 2032 first-round picks (from Warriors)
Suns receive:Jonathan Kuminga
Nets receive:Grayson Allen, 2027 first-round pick (from Suns tied to UTAH, CLE or MIN), 2026 second-round pick (from Suns tied to OKC, DAL or PHI), 2030 second-round pick (from Pelicans)
For Golden State, this is the definition of going all-in. Giving up Kuminga, Moody, and three first-round picks is a serious package for a player who hasn’t yet made an All-Star team. But it might also be the kind of gamble that keeps the Stephen Curry era alive for a little while longer.
Why Trey Murphy Fits the Warriors
Trey Murphy III, Warriors
Getty Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts to making a basket in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors.
Murphy has steadily developed into one of the league’s most dangerous wing scorers. At 6’8”, he has the size to guard multiple positions and the shooting stroke to stretch defenses. On a Warriors roster already boosted by Jimmy Butler, Murphy would add another layer of scoring and versatility, giving Golden State one of the league’s most dynamic forward pairings.
O’Keefe explained the risk-reward balance of the deal:
“This may seem like a lot and perhaps too much for a player who’s never made an All-Star team, but the beauty of a 25-year-old trade target means you give yourself some insurance against a hopeless future once Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green retire.”
The Warriors have been caught in the middle of trying to compete now while protecting their long-term assets. Murphy’s age and upside give them a rare chance to do both.
Trey Murphy III, Warriors
Getty Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts to making a basket in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors.
Will the Pelicans Even Listen?
That’s the biggest question. Fischer reported that the Pelicans have “batted away calls” for Murphy, and there’s little incentive for them to part with a rising young star on a good contract. Still, New Orleans’ recent draft-night decision — dealing a completely unprotected 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta — raised eyebrows around the league and suggested a certain level of dysfunction.
If that front office is willing to take risks, perhaps the Warriors can position themselves to capitalize.
Warriors Face a Tough Decision
The Warriors’ slow offseason has only amplified pressure to act. Kuminga’s restricted free agency looms large. Without clarity on his future, Golden State has struggled to make moves elsewhere. At some point, they’ll have to decide whether to double down on this core or pivot toward building around younger talent.
Going after Trey Murphy III would be a gamble. But it’s the type of move that could pay off in the short term. It could also keep the franchise competitive beyond the Curry years.
For now, it’s only a trade pitch. But if Golden State wants to make noise in the West, it may take exactly this kind of bold swing.