The Golden State Warriors are looking for the best methods to make the most of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler’s last seasons. Trading for Butler was part of that, but they have a few key decisions to make this offseason, including whether or not to extend Jonathan Kuminga.
One alternative would be to trade for Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans, as it is believed that anyone on the roster could be acquired for the proper price. Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report identified Murphy as a “ambitious” target for the Warriors this offseason.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports reported, ‘There are no untouchables in New Orleans.’ That’s an unusual attitude for the Pelicans to take, especially with guys as productive, young, and inexpensive as Trey Murphy III. But let us run with it.
“If the Golden State Warriors want to solve their lack of athleticism, deep shooting, and secondary playmaking on the wing, they’ll most likely do so by signing more players. If there is a single individual who can provide all of that, he is normally paid close to the top.
“Murphy is an exception. The rangy wing signed a four-year, $112 million agreement that will keep him underpaid until his mid-20s, and he averaged a career-high 21.2 points and 3.5 assists per game last year. Murphy is a solid defender who can also attack the rim from high altitude. He is a lifetime 38.3 percent long-range sniper whose only major concern is his health.
“How can the Dubs sign a player as good as him with their limited resources and wage structure? That’s the hard part. Almost any deal would have to include Brandin Podziemski, whom Golden State was reluctant to trade last summer.”
Murphy, a high-level defender and outstanding three-point shooter, would complement Curry, Butler, and Green perfectly. The difficult aspect is locating the trade. Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Buddy Hield are all contractually close enough, but losing them would deplete the team’s depth without a viable replacement. With an older roster of stars, the Warriors require depth.
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