Dec 21, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dribbles the ball against New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The Golden State Warriors are eyeing a surprise trade for a key defense-first veteran swingman this summer.
Golden State has been mired in negotiations with restricted free agent power forward Jonathan Kuminga, which has held up most of the team's other roster business.
Longtime center Kevon Looney, who has faded in recent seasons, signed a somewhat generous two-season, $16 million to anchor the paint for the lowly New Orleans Pelicans.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (via Substack), the Warriors, who have six open standard roster spots as of this writing, remain far apart from Kuminga amidst talks of a new deal.
The Warriors have refused to engage in sign-and-trade talks that would see the team shipping out wings Buddy Hield or Moses Moody, as they look to hold on to any elite sharpshooters beyond All-NBA superstar point guard Stephen Curry.
The Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls all expressed interest in acquiring Kuminga that way -- and Phoenix's offer had even reached a whopping $90 million. Golden State has also offered Kuminga a two-year deal in excess of $45 million with a team option for 2026-27, but Kuminga has been reticent to agree as he thinks (probably correctly) it would be used for trade fodder midseason.
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Shockingly, Fischer indicates that the Warriors have reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers about trading for LeBron James, the former Finals foe whom they've been apparently interested in for years. But bringing back James' $52.6 million expiring contract could prove prohibitively pricey in terms of contract-matching, Fischer cautions.
But Fischer offers up a "more realistic trade target" that Golden State has apparently been considering: New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, who made the All-Defensive Team in 2024.
"Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer," Fischer wrties. "Yet sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly. The two-way forward will be playing on a contract in 2025-26 -- at precisely $25 million -- as desirable as his talent."
Fischer reveals that the San Antonio Spurs are also said to sniffing around the possibility of a Murphy deal this summer. Either way, Fischer posits, it might take a lot to pry him out of New Orleans. His shooting and defense would make him an ideal role player fit alongside aging future Hall of Famers Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, Fischer observes.
"You could certainly understand why the Warriors would want Murphy. It's not hard to picture his length, defensive prowess and 3-point shooting meshing nicely alongside Curry, Butler and Draymond Green," Fischer notes. "Murphy is a career 38% shooter from deep; having enough shooting to surround their three core pillars is among the reasons why the Warriors have been willing to go only so far in their Kuminga talks."