The Golden State Warriors’ war room is in full gear. According to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, the franchise has been mapping its strategy for the February 5th trade deadline since early December, and now three potential dance partners have emerged: the Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Chicago Bulls. However, each negotiation is a complex chess game, revolving around the future of Jonathan Kuminga and the desperate quest to find the perfect final piece to re-ignite a dynasty.
Chris Mullin and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
1. New Orleans Pelicans: The “Big Wing” Dream and a Tough Sell
The Warriors are reportedly targeting two top prizes from the Pelicans: Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
Trey Murphy III: The ideal scoring wing (25 years old), but considered “virtually untouchable” as he begins a valuable four-year contract.
Herb Jones: The 27-year-old defensive ace seems like a more realistic target. He’s a top goal for both the Warriors and Lakers. However, Siegel notes the Pelicans are also reluctant to move Jones. Still, as someone potentially less central to New Orleans’ long-term vision than Murphy, he represents a crack in the door.
The million-dollar question: Do the Pelicans want Kuminga? The answer is: interested, but not sold. Both the Bulls and Pelicans are not completely convinced Kuminga is a franchise building block. This significantly dampens his trade value.
2. Brooklyn Nets: The Top Target is MICHAEL PORTER JR.
All roads seem to lead to MPJ. While Nic Claxton has been mentioned, the Warriors are specifically targeting centers making under $15M annually. Porter Jr., on a $33.7M deal, is the expensive but worthy exception.
The Reason: He’s having a career year: 25.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists on elite efficiency. At 27, he’s the perfect scoring “big wing” the Warriors crave.
The Cost: It will be steep – likely Kuminga, Moses Moody, and at least one unprotected first-round pick. But the Warriors may be willing to meet that price for a star entering his prime.
3. Chicago Bulls: The Contingency Plan Named COBY WHITE
While Nikola Vucevic’s name may surface, his negative on-court impact metrics make him an unlikely fit. The real target is likely guard Coby White.
Why? White (6’4″) is a scoring playmaker heavily pursued this trade season. However, the Warriors don’t need another guard; they need a big wing. Therefore, White is likely just the “Plan B” if bigger swings at the Nets or Pelicans fail.
Jalen Smith could be an option, but he’s more of a stretch big than a wing.
The Warriors’ strategy is now clear: acquire a versatile, impactful wing to provide an immediate boost to their aging core. Michael Porter Jr. is the “white whale,” but the cost would reshape the franchise. Herb Jones is a more grounded target, yet fiercely contested. Coby White represents a safe but imperfect fallback.
At the heart of any major deal is Jonathan Kuminga. But the league-wide “hesitation” about his ceiling weakens Golden State’s bargaining power. Mike Dunleavy Jr. now faces the ultimate front-office dilemma: should he go “all-in” with future assets (Kuminga, Moody, picks) for an immediate push, or play it safer with a more modest swing? The decision in the coming weeks will define the Warriors’ path not just for this season, but for the era beyond Stephen Curry.