Warriors Trade Idea to Pair $112M Scoring Wing Target with Steph Curry
Warriors Trade Idea to Pair $112M Scoring Wing with Steph Curry
Golden State finally cashes in some of its draft capital for a win-now pieceJoey Akeley|
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Golden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors have indicated that they will keep their 2026 first-round pick unless an ideal trade falls into their lap.
The Pelicans might give them the gift they are waiting for.
ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that Trey Murphy III could be more attainable this offseason and that the Pelicans are hoping to get a 2026 first-round pick after trading one last year.
The ideal money-matching contract for the Warriors is Draymond Green's, but if Green doesn't opt in to his contract until the June 29 deadline, it will be complicated for Golden State to include the 2026 No. 11 pick, which will be made on June 23.
Essentially, the Warriors will have know who the Pelicans want with the 11th pick, make the pick for them, wait for Green to opt in and then trade Green and the pick to the Pelicans.
If Green chooses to not opt in, the deal is off, and the Warriors are stuck with whoever the Pels wanted.
It's risky, but it would most likely work out as intended. If Green opts out, he won't make anywhere near the $27.7 million he'd make if he opts in.
The Trade
Warriors get: Trey Murphy III
Pelicans get: Draymond Green, 2026 No. 11 pick, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick swap
Why the Warriors Do It
Murphy continues to be the most ideal trade target connected to the Warriors. He's just 26 years old and under contract for three more seasons at a bargain rate of $27 million in 2026-27, $29 million in 2027-28 and $31 million in 2028-29.
He plays the Warriors' biggest position of need (big wing), and he's a three-level scorer who can take some pressure off Stephen Curry.
The big question is how much draft capital is too much for him?
On the one hand, the 6'8" small forward is already a fringe star after averaging 21.4 points over the last two seasons.
On the other hand, he's yet to have a star-level impact. He had a plus-3.3 net rating this past season, per Cleaning the Glass. That's nothing to scoff at, but it doesn't scream that he's worth two first-round picks and one first-round swap.
The Warriors would be betting that he'd have more impact with Curry and Jimmy Butler (when healthy).
Trading a franchise legend like Green is never an obvious decision. But the Warriors have to face reality.
Green just had his worst net rating (minus-4.3) since his rookie season. They should trade him if they can get a player of Murphy's caliber back in return.
Why the Pelicans Do It
The reason Murphy has been in trade rumors for the past year is the Pelicans want to build around their young core of Derik Queen (21) and Jeremiah Fears (19), and though Murphy is pretty young himself at 26, he's the only trade chip that could get the Pels multiple assets back and really supercharge this team into the 2030s.
The Stein Line's Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that the Pelicans are "very interested in acquiring a lottery pick" for the 2026 draft.
If they have fallen in love with a prospect the Warriors can draft for them while they also get an additional first-round pick and a first-round swap, they'll have to seriously consider this.
New Orleans would likely be a bit of a mess in 2026-27, but it could be much more competitive in 2027-28. The Pels would be betting that the Warriors would sink lower than them in 2027-28, making the 2028 first-round pick swap very valuable.
New Orleans would have no use for Green, who would become an immediate buyout candidate.
Published Jun 18, 2026
JOEY AKELEYJoey was a writer and editor at Bleacher Report for 13 years. He's a Bay Area sports expert and a huge NBA fan.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
