The Golden State Warriors have their eyes on a dream trade target, and no, it’s not just Giannis Antetokounmpo. Trey Murphy III has emerged as a top-tier option for the Warriors as they look to retool around Stephen Curry and make one last push in the Western Conference. But there’s a major obstacle standing in the way: the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 12-36 record, New Orleans has made it clear they’re not looking to move Murphy. According to reports, the Pelicans have “repeatedly insisted” they plan to keep both Murphy and defensive ace Herb Jones through the trade deadline. That’s a firm stance from a team that’s been stuck in neutral and has shown little willingness to shake up its core-at least for now.
Instead of entertaining offers for Murphy, Jones, or even Zion Williamson, New Orleans has reportedly made rookie big man Yves Missi the most available player on the roster. That could change in the coming days-there’s still time before the deadline-but so far, the Pelicans haven’t blinked.
From Golden State’s perspective, Murphy checks a lot of boxes. He’s a high-level shooter, a versatile defender, and doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.
In other words, he fits the Warriors’ system like a glove. His ability to space the floor, guard multiple positions, and play off of Curry’s gravity makes him an ideal piece for a team trying to squeeze one more title run out of its championship core.
But there’s a harsh reality at play here: even if the Warriors did land Murphy, it might not be enough to move the needle-especially after losing Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL. Butler was supposed to be the final piece, the two-way star who could help shoulder the load alongside Curry. Without him, Golden State’s ceiling takes a significant hit, and adding Murphy, while helpful, might not be enough to vault them back into true contender status.
That said, the Warriors aren’t likely to back off. They’ve long believed they’re one piece away, and Murphy represents a rare combination of youth, upside, and immediate impact. He’s not just a win-now addition-he’s a bridge to the future, someone who could be part of the next era once Curry eventually hangs it up.
The numbers back it up. Murphy is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 22.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
He’s shooting an efficient 48.9% from the field and knocking down 37.8% of his threes on a healthy 8.2 attempts per game. That kind of production, especially on a team that’s struggled to find consistency, makes him arguably the Pelicans’ most valuable trade chip.
From the outside, it’s easy to argue that New Orleans should cash in now. They’ve already started laying the foundation for a rebuild, selecting Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears in the 2025 draft.
Moving Murphy while his value is sky-high could accelerate that process. And if he were made available, it wouldn’t just be the Warriors calling-he’d have a long list of suitors.
Still, Golden State may be one of the few teams willing to meet the high asking price. It would likely take at least two first-round picks to get a conversation started, and possibly more. But given how seamlessly Murphy would fit into their system-and how few opportunities the Warriors have left with Curry-it’s a price they might be willing to pay.
For now, though, it’s all hypothetical. As long as the Pelicans hold firm, Murphy’s not going anywhere. And for the Warriors, that means continuing the search for a needle-moving addition in a market that doesn’t have many of them.