The Golden State Warriors have been down this road before with Troy Murphy. It didn't take them very far.
Murphy was a Warrior for five and a half seasons, from the day he was drafted in the summer of 2001 to the day he was traded to Indiana in the winter of '07. He endured five and a half losing seasons in Northern California — and it wasn't until after Murphy was traded that the Warriors finally got over the hump and cracked into the West playoffs in 2007, their only berth in the last 17 years.
Sorry for being blunt, but it's the pure and simple truth: Troy Murphy and the Warriors haven't won a thing together. They've tried, and it hasn't worked.
So when Murphy returned to Golden State this week after four years away, the move seemed destined to fail. Murphy hasn't been a winner with that franchise. He needed a change of scenery, and a buyout seemed inevitable.
And now it might not happen?
There's now a chance that Murphy stays in Golden State and finishes out the season, and frankly, that seems like a mistake for both sides.
What do the Warriors get out of the transaction? Murphy is now the highest-paid player on the Warriors — between now and season's end, he's owed a pro-rated figure of nearly $4 million. There's no reason the veteran big man is worth that kind of cash to them. If the Warriors think they're making the playoffs this spring, with Murphy or without him, they're delusional.
What does Murphy get out of it? He's already played for plenty of losing teams in the Bay Area. He's 30 years old and has never made the playoffs. It's about time he caught on with a winner.
There are plenty of winners that would love to have him. If Murphy and the Warriors can come to an agreement on a buyout soon, he could be a key piece for a contender. He averaged a double-double in five of his first nine seasons, and he's one of the game's best rebounders when he's at his best.
The Celtics are drooling at the chance to sign Murphy this week. The Heat and Knicks are, too. Any of the three could snatch him up, integrate him in time for the stretch run, and venture forward with him on a long playoff run.
Murphy's got to get out of Golden State. He's got absolutely nothing to lose, and absolutely everything to gain.
Can Troy Murphy and the Warriors make it work this time? Share your thoughts below.
