The Golden State Warriors need help. That much is obvious after a 39-43 season that ended with a play-in loss. But the idea that they’ll use their 11th overall pick to trade for New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III? One NBA insider isn’t buying it.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints appeared on the Clutch Scoops podcast this week and basically poured cold water on the whole thing. His reasoning is pretty straightforward: the Warriors don’t have the assets to make a deal like that work.
“I don’t see them trading it for Trey Murphy. I don’t really see the Warriors giving up multiple rounds for years to come and they don’t really have any assets on their roster that they could trade the Pelicans, compared to other teams, so I don’t see that being a real possibility for them right now,” Siegel said.
And he’s got a point. The Warriors’ roster is top-heavy with aging stars and expensive contracts. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins aren’t going anywhere. Jonathan Kuminga is young but hasn’t proven enough to be a centerpiece in a trade for a guy like Murphy. Beyond that? You’re looking at Moses Moody, Kevon Looney, and Gary Payton II — role players, not the kind of young talent that gets a team like New Orleans to pick up the phone.
The Pelicans side of this
Murphy just finished his sixth NBA season and has developed into a legitimate two-way starter. He can shoot from deep, defend multiple positions, and at 25 years old he fits a winning timeline for almost any team. The Pelicans haven’t been great lately, which is why his name keeps popping up in trade rumors. But if New Orleans does decide to move him, they’re going to want a haul. Draft picks. Young players. Maybe a combination of both.
Golden State’s problem is they don’t have much of either to offer. Their pick this year is at 11, which is decent. But future picks? Those get complicated when your star player is 38 and you’re not sure if you’ll be tanking or contending in three years.
What the Warriors actually need
Here’s the thing — Murphy would be a great fit. He’s 6-foot-8, can space the floor, and plays solid defense. That’s exactly the kind of wing the Warriors have been missing since Klay Thompson slowed down and eventually left. But getting him would require the kind of all-in move that a team in Golden State’s position probably shouldn’t make.
The Warriors are stuck between two realities. One where they try to win now with Curry. And another where they prepare for life after him. Trading future picks for Murphy kinda tries to do both at once, which is risky. They’d be better off using that 11th pick to grab a rookie who can develop while they figure out what happens next.
Golden State finished 10th in the West last season. They beat the Clippers in the play-in but lost to the Suns for the eighth seed. That’s not a team one trade away from a title. That’s a team that needs a real plan.
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