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Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Golden State Warriors’ path toward trading Jonathan Kuminga has become increasingly clear — and increasingly urgent — after the former No. 7 pick logged his second straight healthy DNP-CD in Friday’s 127–120 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. As Kuminga’s role vanishes, the team’s internal expectations for a potential trade are beginning to crystallize.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Warriors have a particular and challenging target in mind.
Windhorst: Warriors Want a Young Two-Way Wing Without Surrendering a First-Round Pick
Speaking during a Q&A session on Instagram Threads, Windhorst broke down what the Warriors view as the ideal outcome for a Kuminga trade. Golden State wants to exchange Kuminga for a young two-way wing on a cost-controlled contract — without attaching a first-round pick.
“Two-way wing in his 20s under control on a contract without having to add a 1st rounder to deal,” Windhorst wrote, calling such an outcome the best-case scenario for Golden State’s front office.
The problem? The perfect match already exists — and the price tag is enormous.
The player who fits Windhorst’s description is Trey Murphy III, the 25-year-old New Orleans Pelicans wing on a four-year, $112 million deal.
Warriors Locked in on Trey Murphy, but Pelicans Hold the Leverage
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Pelicans are expected to be “front and center” in any Kuminga discussions because Golden State has been open for months about its strong interest in Murphy.
Yet the key variable in the equation is New Orleans’ evaluation of Kuminga.
“For quite some time now, the Warriors have been open about their desire to acquire the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III,” Amick wrote. “But if they’re going to use Kuminga to do that, then it would be helpful to know how, if at all, the Pelicans value the Warriors’ 23-year-old forward. For the time being, the feedback is mixed.”
That mixed feedback is crucial. While some Pelicans evaluators remain intrigued by Kuminga’s athletic gifts, others question his fit, consistency and development curve — making it unclear whether Kuminga is enough to headline a Murphy trade.
Pelicans Set Massive Price for Murphy and Herb Jones
GettyTrey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrates a second half basket with Herbert Jones.
Even if New Orleans liked Kuminga, Golden State would still face a steep climb.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that there is “considerable curiosity leaguewide” about whether the Pelicans would listen to offers for Murphy or defensive standout Herb Jones, but emphasized that New Orleans has effectively constructed a wall around both players.
“The price point to convince New Orleans to part with either Murphy or Jones… is extremely high and intended to discourage inquiries,” Stein wrote.
In other words: Windhorst’s ideal outcome scenario is the very scenario New Orleans is nearly guaranteed to reject — especially if Golden State refuses to include a first-round pick.
The Warriors can include up to four future first-rounders, but they have deliberately preserved those assets in case a superstar such as Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available.
Murphy’s Rise Highlights What Warriors Wanted Kuminga to Become
Murphy is posting career highs across the board — 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 36.1% from three — while offering ideal size (6-foot-8), length and defensive versatility.
He is, in essence, the blueprint the Warriors had hoped Kuminga would become when they drafted him seventh overall in 2021.
Meanwhile, Kuminga’s trajectory continues to trend downward. His back-to-back DNP-CDs signal a complete collapse of his role, replaced by players like former second-round pick Gui Santos, whose brief but energetic stint Friday earned praise from Steve Kerr.
“Just right now, it’s where things are,” Kerr said after Friday’s loss. “But it can change very quickly.”
Reality Check: Windhorst’s ‘Ideal Outcome’ May Be Impossible
If the Warriors could flip Kuminga for Murphy without giving up a first-round pick, it would be a franchise-defining victory. But league insiders, including Stein and Amick, suggest that outcome is borderline unrealistic.
As Golden State weighs its future — and as Kuminga’s value continues to stall — Windhorst’s scenario may be the dream, not the expectation.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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