Trade To Send Murphy Back To Warriors - For Now
OAKLAND (CBS Sports / AP) -- The Golden State Warriors and the New Jersey Nets have agreed to a deal that would send Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric to New Jersey for Troy Murphy and a 2012 second-round pick, sources confirmed to separately to both CBS Sports and The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Golden State was expected to wait until Thursday's NBA trade deadline to complete the deal in case there was an offer for more draft picks, and sources said the Warriors would likely buy out Murphy's contract to make him a free agent.
Murphy is considering signing with Boston, Miami or Orlando once his buyout is complete.
Wright's and Gadzuric's contracts -- worth about $11 million combined this year, the same as Murphy's -- also expire at the end of the season and would help New Jersey clear salary cap space. Both Wright and Gadzuric were held out of Golden State's practice Wednesday.
The Warriors have been fielding calls for weeks trying to stockpile draft picks, a strategy new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have said is a priority.
Golden State gave up its 2012 second-round pick to New Jersey in a deal for Marcus Williams in 2008.
After missing out on bigger moves, the Warriors have a trade in place that would land them that pick back. But they have no interests in retaining Murphy in the deal.
Murphy was taken by the Warriors with the 14th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. He was dealt to Indiana in 2007 and traded to New Jersey before this season.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center would draw strong interest from playoff teams who are looking for another big man. Murphy is averaging 11.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in his career but played only 18 games with the Nets because of injuries this season.
In a swift and astonishing comeback from their failed pursuit of Carmelo Anthony, the Nets also made a blockbuster trade Wednesday to acquire All-Star point guard Deron Williams from Utah. They sent rookie Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris to the Jazz in that deal and a 2011 first-round pick.
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