​The Golden State Warriors are finding themselves short on options as they pursue their ideal additions. The dream scenario remains adding LeBron James in free agency to pair him with rival Stephen Curry for the first time in their NBA careers. Yet, it appears LeBron is prioritizing the Cleveland Cavaliers and other teams, leaving Golden State with a shrinking window of chance.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy has long been viewed as the backup plan if LeBron’s path to the Warriors faltered. Still, a trade for Murphy now seems unlikely. NBA insider Jake Fischer provided an update indicating that, for the moment, the Pelicans intend to keep Murphy. He noted that the offseason chatter suggesting Murphy might be available was inflated by the perception created around the draft, but there simply isn’t a robust market for him at the price New Orleans is asking: “At this point in time, I am working with the belief that the Pelicans want to keep Trey Murphy. This whole offseason chatter around him kind of got blown out of proportion by them letting other teams around the draft believe he was available, but there just isn’t really a market for him at that price point that the Pelicans are asking for.”
Murphy is expected to remain in New Orleans as the Pelicans aim to contend for a playoff spot next season alongside Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and a roster filled with promising young assets. After a summer of quiet trade talks for Murphy, the likelihood of a move appears to have diminished significantly. The rumor mill had positioned teams such as the Warriors, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers as potential destinations at various times, but New Orleans reportedly started the process with an exorbitant price—four future first-round picks plus a solid young asset. Although reports claimed the Pelicans had reduced their ask to three draft picks, they were not willing to move Murphy for anything less this offseason.
For Golden State, parting with three draft picks—some of which would come after Curry’s eventual decline or retirement in the 2030s—would be a heavy concession. The Warriors have signaled a desire to keep their draft capital intact for a potential blockbuster move if a legitimate superstar becomes available during the summer or the season. As a result, Murphy’s addition to Golden State seems unlikely this summer unless the team is willing to gamble with their future on a player who may not justify the price.
The offseason began with high hopes that Golden State could land one of the league’s top names. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the three marquee targets management hoped to secure. With Leonard and Antetokounmpo now off the table after trades to the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, respectively, the Warriors’ confidence in becoming the destination for James has waned. The front office’s confidence in becoming the landing spot for James has faded, and Murphy’s candidacy as a potential answer has grown more distant with each passing day. The Warriors have not added any significant new free agents or completed trades to improve the roster.
Among the few bright spots is Yaxel Lendeborg, a 23-year-old rookie who brings fresh energy to the lineup. Re-signing Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford could be viewed as prudent moves that maintain some continuity, but overall the roster is essentially a continuation of last season’s core with only modest changes. Until a truly transformative move presents itself—one that can dramatically elevate the team’s ceiling—the Warriors may continue to navigate a cautious path, prioritizing future assets and smarter fits over short-term gambles. For now, the pursuit of the perfect fit remains a work in progress as Golden State weighs every option in a rapidly shifting free-agent market.