The Warriors are still looking for a real jolt this offseason, and Trey Murphy III has quickly become one of the names to watch again.
Golden State missed out on the blockbuster free agency swing for LeBron James, and that has left the front office searching for another path to a major upgrade. One possible opening now comes from New Orleans, where the Pelicans’ reported interest in restricted free agent Benedict Mathurin could change the calculus around Murphy.
According to The Stein Line on Monday, the Pelicans have had recent discussions with Mathurin, who remains in limbo as a restricted free agent along with Jalen Duren in Detroit and Peyton Watson in Denver. That development does not directly involve Murphy, but it could matter a lot to the Warriors if New Orleans follows through and lands Mathurin.
The logic is pretty simple: if the Pelicans bring in a 24-year-old wing who fits a similar mold, they may be more willing to move Murphy and turn him into future draft capital. Marc Stein reported that there have been new recent negotiations between the Pelicans and restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin, with New Orleans and a second unnamed suitor showing interest in the Clippers’ RFA.
Mathurin’s case is tied to a starting role, and the numbers from his time with the Clippers help explain why. The former sixth overall pick averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 17 games after being involved in the mid-season Ivica Zubac trade.
For New Orleans, the roster already has plenty of options in the mix. Mathurin, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson are all part of the picture, along with recent lottery picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. That kind of overlap could make Murphy more available, especially if a deal with Golden State is built around future draft assets.
And that is exactly where the Warriors are hoping this goes. With James off to the 76ers and an Anthony Davis trade seemingly parked, Golden State’s offseason has been stuck in neutral. Murphy would give them a much-needed way to change that, which is why his name has come back into focus after James’ decision.
The Warriors have had interest in Murphy since last offseason, and they do have the pieces to make a deal happen. The question now is whether the two sides can finally line up on the structure of a trade.
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The appeal for the Warriors is obvious: add depth, size and flexibility in one move while using future draft capital to chase immediate help. But because this is only a proposal, not a reported transaction, it remains more of a roadmap for what Golden State might need than a finished answer, and the hard part is figuring out whether the price of that kind of fix is too steep for a team trying to stay competitive now and later. [Read more 🡒]