NBA trade rumor: Warriors could bid farewell to Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster trade with Pelicans
The Times Of India | July 17, 2026 12:39 PM CST
The Golden State Warriors are still waiting on LeBron James to make up his mind, but Stephen Curry doesn't have time to wait around. Last season made it obvious that the roster around him isn't built to chase a fifth championship, and that reality is pushing Golden State toward a backup plan that would send away one of its own stars.
That plan centers on a swap with the New Orleans Pelicans: Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody headed south, Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole headed to the Bay. It's a deal built on a long-standing crush and an old flame, and it would reshape both rosters heading into next season.
Which teams are interested in Jimmy Butler?
The only team in these reports linked to acquiring Butler is New Orleans, and the interest runs in the opposite direction just as strongly. Golden State has pursued Murphy for years, including talks around the 2025 trade deadline and again that offseason.
What are insiders saying about the trade rumor?
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto that Golden State was among several teams engaged with New Orleans on Murphy, with draft-night conversations touching the No. 11 selection.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor followed with word that the Pelicans have set their price at up to three first-round picks for Murphy. On his podcast, O'Connor said it wasn't clear whether New Orleans is seriously fielding offers or simply collecting them, adding that some sources have suggested the ask could run even higher than three firsts, calling that price tag "absolutely insane."
Contract details and salary cap implications
The clearest financial detail in the reporting belongs to Moody, whose deal has two years and $26 million left on it, a number that makes him an affordable, low-risk trade chip even coming off injury. Poole is on an expiring contract, which lowers the Pelicans' long-term risk if they end up taking him back in a deal. Specific contract terms and cap figures for Butler and Murphy were not included in the available reporting.
How the trade could impact both teams
For Golden State, the appeal is scheme fit. Poole and Murphy both thrive coming off pindowns and shooting, with Murphy adding real value as a perimeter defender. Poole averaged 20.4 points and 2.6 made threes a game in his last Warriors season despite starting only 43 games, and while his history with Draymond Green drew attention, both sides have reportedly moved past it. His expiring deal makes him close to a no-risk add.
For New Orleans, the return is simple: draft capital. Golden State holds up to four movable first-round picks, assets originally earmarked for a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo before that pursuit fell through. With James' free agency still unresolved, the Warriors may lean harder on those picks to upgrade the roster elsewhere.
Moody complicates the math. He's coming off what Sean Deveney described as a "nasty knee injury" likely to keep him out for most of next season, but at 24 and with a reasonable contract, he still carries value as a change-of-scenery asset for Golden State if a bigger move, including a James signing, requires roster space.
None of this moves until New Orleans decides whether it's actually selling or just listening. Until that answer comes, Golden State's Plan B stays exactly that: a plan.
That plan centers on a swap with the New Orleans Pelicans: Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody headed south, Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole headed to the Bay. It's a deal built on a long-standing crush and an old flame, and it would reshape both rosters heading into next season.
Which teams are interested in Jimmy Butler?
The only team in these reports linked to acquiring Butler is New Orleans, and the interest runs in the opposite direction just as strongly. Golden State has pursued Murphy for years, including talks around the 2025 trade deadline and again that offseason.
- Warriors receive: Trey Murphy III, Jordan Poole
- Pelicans receive: Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, two first-round picks
What are insiders saying about the trade rumor?
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto that Golden State was among several teams engaged with New Orleans on Murphy, with draft-night conversations touching the No. 11 selection.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor followed with word that the Pelicans have set their price at up to three first-round picks for Murphy. On his podcast, O'Connor said it wasn't clear whether New Orleans is seriously fielding offers or simply collecting them, adding that some sources have suggested the ask could run even higher than three firsts, calling that price tag "absolutely insane."
Contract details and salary cap implications
The clearest financial detail in the reporting belongs to Moody, whose deal has two years and $26 million left on it, a number that makes him an affordable, low-risk trade chip even coming off injury. Poole is on an expiring contract, which lowers the Pelicans' long-term risk if they end up taking him back in a deal. Specific contract terms and cap figures for Butler and Murphy were not included in the available reporting.
How the trade could impact both teams
For Golden State, the appeal is scheme fit. Poole and Murphy both thrive coming off pindowns and shooting, with Murphy adding real value as a perimeter defender. Poole averaged 20.4 points and 2.6 made threes a game in his last Warriors season despite starting only 43 games, and while his history with Draymond Green drew attention, both sides have reportedly moved past it. His expiring deal makes him close to a no-risk add.
For New Orleans, the return is simple: draft capital. Golden State holds up to four movable first-round picks, assets originally earmarked for a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo before that pursuit fell through. With James' free agency still unresolved, the Warriors may lean harder on those picks to upgrade the roster elsewhere.
Moody complicates the math. He's coming off what Sean Deveney described as a "nasty knee injury" likely to keep him out for most of next season, but at 24 and with a reasonable contract, he still carries value as a change-of-scenery asset for Golden State if a bigger move, including a James signing, requires roster space.
None of this moves until New Orleans decides whether it's actually selling or just listening. Until that answer comes, Golden State's Plan B stays exactly that: a plan.
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