The Golden State Warriors are reportedly in active trade conversations with both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Charlotte Hornets centered around the No. 11 pick. But here’s the thing: they’re not about to get fleeced.
According to multiple reports, including from Michael Scotto of Hoopshype, the Warriors have discussed moving their first-round pick with New Orleans for forward Trey Murphy III — a player who’s quietly turned himself into one of the most intriguing young wings in the league. The Pelicans, for their part, are eyeing Tennessee forward Nate Ament if they can slide into the lottery at No. 11.
Murphy just put up a career-high 21.5 points per game last season while shooting 47 percent from the field and nearly 38 percent from deep. That’s the kind of production that gets teams calling. And plenty of them have. The Warriors aren’t alone in their interest, but they might be the most interesting suitor given their roster situation and draft capital.
But here’s where it gets tricky. ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel reports that Golden State is open to trade talks but has no intention of overpaying. They like Murphy. They just don’t love him enough to give up the farm. And it’s not even a guarantee they move the pick at all. Arizona guard Brayden Burries is reportedly on their radar if they stay at No. 11.
The Hornets Are Lurking Too
Charlotte has also been in the mix with the Warriors, according to the same reports. The Hornets are trying to move up in the draft to grab Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. They’ve got both the No. 14 and No. 18 picks as potential trade chips. But the Oklahoma City Thunder are also sniffing around Johnson, so the Hornets might need to sweeten the deal if they want to jump ahead.
It’s a lot of moving parts for one draft slot. But for Golden State, the calculus is pretty simple: if they can get a proven young scorer like Murphy without giving up too much, they do it. If not, they stay put and take a swing on Burries or whoever else is on their board.
Murphy’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots for a Pelicans team that’s been stuck in neutral. He went from a first-round pick nobody talked about to a guy who looks like he could be an All-Star in a couple years. His shooting, his length, his ability to create off the dribble — it all fits. That’s why the Warriors are kicking the tires.
But they’ve been burned before on trades that seemed too good to be true. They’re not rushing into anything. If the Pelicans want too much, Golden State will just walk away. That’s the vibe right now, anyway.
Draft night should sort it all out. Or not. That’s the fun part.
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