The Golden State Warriors are weighing several options they have at the upcoming trade deadline. With February officially two weeks away, Steve Kerr’s team has some difficult choices to make, especially with the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler III.
To rebuild their wing depth, the front office has been tempted to trade for an elite three-and-D player, but there’s one barrier it’ll have to overcome to pull this off.
The Warriors Have Significant Interest in Pelicans’ Star, but There’s a Catch
The Warriors have the assets to pull off a potential blockbuster. There is plenty of young talent on the roster, including Jonathan Kuminga, who recently requested a trade from the franchise.
The 23-year-old forward is owed $46.8 million over two seasons, which is a decent salary filler for a major transaction. NBA Senior Writer Anthony Slater ultimately revealed the Warriors’ keen interest in trading for New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, along with what’s standing in the way of a deal.
“A name I continue to hear that has long been and is still of interest to the Warriors is Trey Murphy III. The Pelicans have been signaling they don’t want to move him; he’s under a very good contract, and they don’t have to make a decision on him now or over the summer,” Slater wrote.
.@anthonyVslater on the Warriors:
“A name I continue to hear that has long been and is still of interest to the Warriors is Trey Murphy. Pelicans have been signaling they don’t want to move him . . . it could pry the Warriors off a few picks” pic.twitter.com/ELzlSQQuc0
— Chef (@CurryForGame) January 21, 2026
“Obviously, they hope to continue building with the core they have, which isn’t succeeding there, but they seem to think it can. He would have to be made available for the Warriors to go get him, but that is a name that could pry Golden State off a few picks,” Slater further noted.
Trey Murphy III Would Fill Several Immediate Needs for the Warriors
Despite the Pelicans’ 10-35, the 25-year-old forward is having a career season. Murphy is averaging career highs in points (22.2), rebounds (6.1), and assists (3.6) through 41 games of action. Shooting 38.7% from three-point range, the ascending wing fits the archetype of a player that so many teams desperately want.
The former UVA standout is also in the first season of his four-year, $112 million contract, which, as Slater states, is considered very reasonable, if not cheap. Even with Butler healthy, the Warriors still could use some more length and athleticism on the perimeter on both ends, and Murphy’s presence would immediately fill those dire needs.
The question is: how many of its young players and four future first-round picks would the front office be willing to give up for the Pelicans’ star? There’s a chance that adding Murphy in the intermediate would eliminate the Warriors’ chances of trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could be made available during the summer.
The decisions this front office makes in the next two weeks ultimately could determine this franchise’s future over the next decade.
