​Warriors now know the new asking price for Trey Murphy—Pelicans trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. If the Golden State Warriors miss out on LeBron James—which is a plausible scenario—is there a high-profile asset the franchise could pivot toward? Fortunately for the Dubs, a New Orleans Pelicans star forward remains available on the trade market, and Golden State has been among the teams linked to him.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto last Thursday, teams in the mix for Trey Murphy to varying degrees include the Celtics, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, and Hawks. Golden State’s interest in Murphy is being assessed in the context of a potential LeBron James pursuit, which could influence their trade calculus. The Pistons have tracked Murphy in talks but have felt the price was steep. With the asking price easing recently from roughly four first-round picks to about three in Murphy trades, Detroit may have a tighter appetite for a deal following Tobias Harris’s departure in free agency.
Three first-round picks remain a steep price for Murphy, a player who has yet to earn an All-Star or All-NBA nod and lacks comprehensive experience performing in a large market with continual high expectations. Nevertheless, given the Warriors’ apparent outsider status in the James sweepstakes and Jimmy Butler’s expected absence at the start of the 2026-27 season while he recovers from an ACL injury, Golden State may need to surround Curry with an ultra-talented contributor who can help him across Year 18. Murphy, who showcased high-upside two-way ability early in his NBA career, could fit that mold, having averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the Pelicans last season. However, for now, the Warriors’ primary focus seems to be doing whatever it takes to defy the odds and land James.
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