Fifth-year wing Jonathan Kuminga was hit with his first healthy DNP of the season on Sunday, signalling that his days with the Golden State Warriors are numbered. When the Warriors begin exploring deals for Kuminga — after he becomes trade eligible on January 15 — Trey Murphy is reportedly atop their wish list.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Pelicans are open to shopping Murphy, one of the best sharpshooters in the league, ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, along with franchise star Zion Williams and All-Defensive ace Herb Jones.
“You can be rest assured the Pelicans will be listening on trade offers for (Williamson),” Fischer told Bleacher Report stream, via RealGM. “And there are definitely teams that have told me as recently as today that New Orleans is now starting to listen and at least show some willingness to listen on Herb Jones and Trey Murphy as well.”
Warriors Covet Trey Murphy
Fischer’s report spells good news for a Warriors team said to be fascinated by Trey Murphy’s versatility, positional size and sharpshooting ability.
Per NBA insider Marc Stein, Golden State inquired with New Orleans about Murphy’s availability this past offseason, but were shot down.
“Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer,” Stein reported in August. “Yet sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly.”
A lot has changed since that reported interaction. With the Pelicans not controlling their 2026 draft pick, and destined to miss the playoffs, they may have little option but to explore a deal for Jones, arguably their best trade chip on the roster.
Pels Interested in Kuminga?
Also worth noting is that the Pelicans may have interest in Jonathan Kuminga.
According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are the four teams the Warriors could discuss Kuminga deals with ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline period.
“Along with the Pacers, another team the Warriors will likely talk with about Kuminga is the New Orleans Pelicans,” Siegel reported on Nov. 28. “Both Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III are players the Warriors have great interest in, and they are the type of versatile wings the Dubs would want in a deal involving Kuminga.”
The Pelicans have reportedly set a very high asking price for Trey Murphy, who is signed through the 2028-29 season. Per The Athletic’s William Guillory, the Pelicans expect multiple first-round picks and quality rotational players to consider a deal.
“Murphy, in particular, is a player who brings tremendous value as a 25-year-old with elite athleticism and 3-point shooting ability. After this season, Murphy is still under contract for three more years and $87 million. That’s a tremendous bargain for a player with his skill set.
“If anything, the franchise has probably learned this season that asking Murphy to be the No. 2 option on a winning team may be too much. But that doesn’t take away the great value he brings as an offensive weapon.”
Murphy averaged a career-high 21.2 points last season, often operating as the primary scoring option for the Pelicans. This season, he is averaging 20.5 points, a career-high 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. The 3-and-D wing has averaged 3.0 made threes over his last three seasons, making him one of the elite perimeter threats in the league.
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