A pair of reports claim the Golden State Warriors have shifted gears from landing a star forward for the stretch run to getting a talented guard as they fight for a spot in the 2024 NBA playoffs.
Heading into their game on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, the Golden State Warriors are four games under .500 and two games back of the final spot in the NBA Play-In tournament. Suffice it to say, the team’s 2023-24 campaign has been a disaster thus far.
Team great Draymond Green seems to be in the midst of a career crossroads after being suspended three different times this season. Fellow Warriors legend Klay Thompson is losing his fight to Father Time, and several other key players from their championship team two years ago are not having quite the same impact.
Considering their bloated payroll, the Warriors going into sell mode before the NBA trade deadline would make sense. However, recent reports suggested the organization is not ready to endure a rebuild with Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level. That is why they were linked to a potential trade for Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam recently.
Golden State Warriors another team in Dejounte Murray trade chase
But last week he was shipped off to the Indiana Pacers and is no longer an option. Nevertheless, Golden State is still on the hunt for impact players that can help get them into better playoff position and it seems they may be targeting a player who has been connected to various teams around the league.
On Sunday, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Keith Pompey claimed the Warriors are one of at least eight teams that have shown interest in one-time All-Star Dejounte Murray. Along with Pompey, The Athletic’s Warriors reporter Anthony Slater also claimed recently that Murray is a name he is hearing about being a target for Golden State before the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.
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Murray is an interesting target since he is unlikely to want to be a bench player with Curry and Thompson both blocking him in the starting five. Furthermore, Chris Paul will eventually return from his injury and it means another ball-dominant player that is already on the roster.
It is possible that Thompson and his expiring contract could be a part of any Murray trade to the Atlanta Hawks.