The Golden State Warriors entered the 2026 NBA trade deadline with sky-high ambitions, aggressively chasing Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as their ultimate dream target. But with the Bucks showing no real willingness to move their franchise cornerstone before February 5, Golden State had to pivot quickly. Reports from insiders like Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reveal the Dubs were simultaneously hunting for high-impact wings to address their glaring need for two-way perimeter help alongside Stephen Curry’s aging core.
One name that stood out prominently: Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans. The 25-year-old forward has been a breakout star this season, posting impressive averages of 22.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting an efficient 55.4% from the field. Murphy embodies the exact prototype Golden State has desperately craved — a versatile, long defender who can score at multiple levels, stretch the floor, and contribute on both ends without needing the ball.
Trey Murphy III
The two teams engaged in multiple discussions, with the Warriors putting together a serious offer centered on young forward Jonathan Kuminga (a former top-10 pick with explosive athleticism and upside), an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, and a lightly protected 2028 first-rounder. In the eyes of Golden State’s front office, this package carried real weight: Kuminga has shown flashes of becoming a high-level contributor, and those future picks hold significant value from a team that could potentially slip out of contention in the post-Curry era.
New Orleans showed some interest in Kuminga as a young talent, but league sources indicate the Pelicans never viewed him as a true foundational piece for their rebuild around Zion Williamson and other core players. Crucially, the Pels refused to budge on Murphy throughout the process. They see him as a potential multi-time All-Star — a core building block locked in on a team-friendly deal through 2028-29 — and demanded overwhelming compensation to even consider moving him.
According to Siegel, if New Orleans was going to part with Murphy, it would have required at least three unprotected first-round picks to offset what they considered “undesirable assets” in the Warriors’ offer. That steep asking price highlights just how inflated the market for proven two-way wings became at the deadline. With so few elite options available league-wide, teams like the Pelicans — who weren’t motivated sellers — held massive leverage and could afford to stand firm.
The Warriors, unwilling to part with that level of draft capital for Murphy (especially with their contention window narrowing), walked away from the talks. No deal materialized, and the gap in valuation proved insurmountable.
Instead, Golden State got creative and pivoted to a different move: trading Kuminga and veteran shooter Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. The 7-foot-3 big man brings elite rim protection, floor-spacing shooting, and scoring punch when healthy — addressing the Warriors’ longstanding need for size and interior presence. Porzingis, a former All-Star and NBA champion, was viewed internally as a no-risk, high-reward addition despite his well-documented injury history (he’s currently recovering from an Achilles issue but expected to contribute post-All-Star break).
This Porzingis acquisition was always a fallback plan, as the organization was prepared to move on from Kuminga’s contract situation rather than let it drag on. While it bolsters the frontcourt and gives Curry a new weapon, it doesn’t fully solve the wing defense and versatility problem that Murphy would have directly fixed.
The failed Murphy pursuit underscores a harsh reality in today’s NBA: acquiring true impact wings is incredibly difficult unless a team is in full seller mode. New Orleans held all the cards, demanded a king’s ransom, and got it — keeping their rising star intact. For the Warriors, it was a case of swinging big (Giannis), settling for solid (Porzingis), and missing out on the “perfect fit” they coveted most.
Warriors fans are left wondering: Was passing on three firsts for Murphy a smart cost-saving move, or a missed chance to truly elevate the roster around Curry? With Porzingis now in the fold and the season heating up, Golden State has a new look — but the wing question lingers. What do you think, Dubs Nation? Drop your grades on the deadline moves and takes on the Murphy drama in the comments below!