The Great Trade of 2011
So the Warriors finally got in on the trading action trading Dan Gadzuric and Brandan Wright for Troy Murphy and a 2012 2nd round pick. Murphy makes $12M this year and will likely never put on a Warrior’s uniform. If he cannot be flipped for another 2nd round pick he will be cut and land somewhere else as a free agent. Brandan Wright was not going to receive a qualifying offer this Summer because he would have most likely accepted not being able to find more money on the open market. Wright makes $3.4 million this year. Gadzuric was not getting much playing time and earns $7.25M this year. Basically the Warriors bought a 2nd round pick in 2012 for $1.3M and opened up two roster spots if in fact Murphy gets cut. If there is a positive to take away from this, the new owners are willing to buy draft picks rather than sell them.
I would have liked to see the Warrior’s get more for Brandan Wright, but his stock was about as low as it could be. Hindsight is 20/20 but they really should have moved him this past Summer. I am happy to move on from the Brandan Wright era and ANOTHER failed 1st round draft pick, but this is bittersweet as the West has opened up a bit with the Williams and Carmelo trades and getting someone who can contribute to the team rather than a contract would have been nice. However, if the Warriors bring back Jeff Adrien as Rusty Simmons is reporting then it lessens the blow a bit. Adrien will be more useful than Murphy would be. Who gets the 2nd open roster spot if Murphy is cut? The Jewish Jordan?
I guess I can give up the project I started last night to change all of our “Brandon Wright” tags to “Brandan Wright” tags so that is good news. Looks like Alex Smith lasted longer.
So anyone looking for more Warrior’s trades besides the slim possibility of moving Murphy for a pick? I don’t anticipate anything and after seeing the Knicks and the Nets probably overpay in the blockbuster trades I am not confident the Warrior’s can pick up a difference maker without giving up too much.