The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are reportedly eyeing New Orleans Pelicans veteran wing Trey Murphy III. The Pelicans, nonetheless, aren’t entertaining commerce provides for the previous first-rounder.
“Sources say that the Warriors have a powerful affinity for Trey Murphy III and have made outreach to New Orleans as not too long ago as this summer season. But sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away requires the 25-year-old, valuing him extremely,” NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.
“The 2-way ahead will probably be enjoying on a contract in 2025-26 — at exactly $25 million — as fascinating as his expertise. One other workforce recognized to have registered commerce curiosity in Murphy, sources say, is San Antonio.”
Trey Murphy III Set To Start 4-Yr, $112 Million Contract
Per Spotrac, Murphy is coming into the primary season of the four-year, $112 million contract he signed with New Orleans final October. He’s slated to earn $29 million in 2027-28 and $31 million within the closing 12 months of his deal in 2028-29.
Fischer famous in his report that Golden State has refused to think about sign-and-trade provides that might drive the workforce to half with both Moses Moody or Buddy Hield, two of the workforce’s prime sharpshooters outdoors of Stephen Curry.
Extra importantly, the Warriors appear extra targeted on ending their contract standoff with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, who was supplied a two-year, $45 million deal by Golden State.
Kuminga, 22, has indicated that the $7.9 million qualifying supply is extra interesting to him. Restricted free brokers have till Oct. 1 to just accept a qualifying supply.
If the Warriors are unable to commerce for Murphy, they at all times have the free company market to fall again on.
Free brokers Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are awaiting decision on Kuminga’s contract scenario earlier than they’ll finalize offers of their very own with Golden State.
Spurs Might Use Murphy’s 3-Level Taking pictures
In 53 video games (51 begins) with the Pelicans final season, Murphy averaged profession highs of 21.2 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 35 minutes per contest whereas capturing 45.4% from the sphere and 36.1% from past the arc.
As for the Spurs, they’re one workforce Murphy could be the proper match for. His measurement and athleticism as a dependable outdoors shooter would complement guards De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Citadel, together with versatile ahead Jeremy Sochan.
The Virginia product can also be adaptable on the subject of defending a number of positions on the opposite finish of the ground, making him all of the extra invaluable to a younger squad like San Antonio.
Evidently, the explanations groups such because the Spurs and Warriors are thinking about buying and selling for Murphy are additionally causes the Pelicans could be reluctant to half with him.
New Orleans additionally nonetheless has religion in Zion Williamson, its former No. 1 total decide of the 2019 draft.
Pelicans government vp of basketball operations Joe Dumars advised Rod Walker of The Occasions-Picayune in June that he has had “actually good conversations with Zion” and mentioned that Williamson is “going to proceed to be a focus right here.”
In his first 5 NBA seasons, Williamson has performed 70 or extra video games solely as soon as and 60 or extra video games simply twice. He’s performed 30 or fewer video games in three seasons and missed everything of the 2021-22 season.
