The Golden State Warriors are desperate for roster upgrades, but money's an issue.
With limited salary cap flexibility, general manager Mike Dunleavy faces a tough challenge this offseason, but a surprising opportunity may emerge in New Orleans, where the Pelicans are reportedly open to shaking up their roster.
Would the Pelicans’ front office, now led by Joe Dumars, collaborate with the Warriors on a pivotal summer deal Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes highlighted one intriguing possibility, writing, “Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported ‘there are no untouchables in New Orleans.’ That’s a pretty wild stance for the Pelicans to take, particularly on players as productive, young and relatively cheap as Trey Murphy III. But let’s run with it."
"If the Golden State Warriors are going to address their lack of athleticism, deep shooting and secondary playmaking on the wing, they’ll likely do it by adding multiple players," Hughes continued.
"If there’s a single guy who can provide all that, he’s usually making close to the max. Murphy is the exception. Inked to a team-friendly four-year, $112 million extension that’ll keep him underpaid through his mid-20s, the rangy wing averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 3.5 assists per game last year. A good defender who can also attack the rim at high altitude, Murphy is a career 38.3 percent long-range sniper whose only real question mark is health. How can the Dubs get a player as good as him with their resources and salary constraints? That’s the hard part. Almost any deal would have to involve Brandin Podziemski, whom Golden State was loath to move last summer.”
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Murphy, 24, would fit the Warriors’ needs like a glove. His length, three-point shooting (career 38.3 percent), and improved playmaking (3.5 assists per game this season) would make him an ideal complement to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
With a $28 million average annual salary, Murphy is a cost-effective star compared to max-salary players who offer similar skills.
The catch? Acquiring Murphy would likely require parting with Podziemski, the Warriors’ 2023 first-round pick who earned All-Rookie honors in 2023-24 and averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 2024-25. Golden State rebuffed trade offers for Podziemski last summer from teams like the Utah Jazz.
Including Podziemski, who earns just $3.7 million in 2025-26, could make the salaries work, potentially alongside expiring contracts like Kevon Looney’s $8 million or draft picks.
The Pelicans’ willingness to listen on Murphy stems from their disappointing 2024-25 season plagued by injuries to Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and Herb Jones. With Dumars steering a potential rebuild, Murphy’s value as a trade chip is high, but New Orleans may hesitate after locking him into a long-term deal.
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