As quickly as Jonathan Kuminga signed his new contract with the Golden State Warriors, commerce hypothesis started.
Neither occasion appears notably enamored by the opposite. Jonathan Kuminga thinks the Golden State Warriors stunted his development after Steve Kerr had him using the bench on the again finish of final season, and the Warriors have been hesitant to decide to the younger star long run.
Regardless of that, Kuminga signed a two-year contract with the Warriors price $48.5 million, lastly placing an finish to their summer-long negotiations. It’s an extremely tradeable contract, which means Kuminga is unlikely to stay with the crew for everything of the season.
The Warriors’ championship window is closing. They’ve 5 gamers over the age of 35 anticipated to begin for them this season, as they roll the cube one ultimate time to win a fifth NBA title with Stephen Curry. Signing Al Horford and buying and selling for Jimmy Butler put them in “win now” mode.
Getting return for Kuminga is due to this fact essential. It could set them up not just for this season, however for all times after Curry. And Kevin O’Connor thinks he’s noticed the right participant the Warriors can commerce for.
Kevin O’Connor thinks Golden State Warriors ought to commerce for Trey Murphy
New Orleans Pelicans’ wing Trey Murphy III had a breakout season final 12 months. He put up 21.2 factors and 5.1 rebounds per sport in his fourth NBA season, having a career-best 12 months in all main statistical classes.
The 25-year-old signed a four-year, $112 million cope with the Pelicans final 12 months, aligning his contract completely with Kuminga ought to Golden State and New Orleans agree on a commerce.
O’Connor thinks that Murphy would take a step into NBA stardom if Golden State have been to commerce for him. Talking on the Kevin O’Connor present, he mentioned, “He would change into a star if he bought traded to the Warriors. It could be an ideal, seamless match if that might occur.
“The Warriors, nearly as good as they’re on paper, are a transfer away, and upgrading Kuminga is the apparent route there.”
As Golden State search younger star energy to make a championship push and safe their future, names comparable to Lauri Markkanen have been floated as a commerce goal. Nevertheless, Murphy represents a extra practical monetary prospect.
O’Connor continued, “He began 12 months one in every of a four-year contract, the place 12 months 4 he’s going to be making 31 million. That’s the one.
“I feel with Markkanen, that’s an enormous cash deal, however Trey Murphy will get 4 years of runway the place that one is smart to me.”
Golden State would have Murphy below contract till the tip of the 2028-29 season, so if he have been to become a real NBA star, he might take the mantle from Curry because the crew’s subsequent star within the coming years.
The Warriors want that desperately as they roll their ageing roster into 2025-26.
Trey Murphy’s harm issues
One issue that might deter the Warriors from pulling the set off on this commerce is Murphy’s ongoing harm issues. Final season alone, he performed solely 53 video games for the Pelicans, after taking part in 57 the 12 months earlier than.
Murphy’s profession 12 months was halted attributable to a season-ending harm. In March, it was introduced that he’d miss the remainder of the season after struggling an harm to his proper shoulder.
He additionally missed the beginning of the season with a proper hamstring pressure that he sustained in coaching camp. Though that wasn’t of concern to New Orleans, who provided Murphy his contract extension afterwards.
Accidents have derailed the Warriors’ current seasons. Final 12 months, Curry’s harm noticed them knocked out of the postseason by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and their new signing, Horford, didn’t play back-to-backs with the Boston Celtics attributable to harm fears.
In the event that they have been to put money into the younger star, it might be a devastating blow to the Warriors if his profession have been tormented by accidents.
