Golden State Obtained the Pick That Became Draymond Green
On February 23, 2011, New Jersey sent veteran forward Troy Murphy and a future 2012 second-round draft selection to Golden State. The Warriors sent big man Dan Gadzuric and young forward Brandan Wright to the Nets. The traded selection eventually became No. 35 in 2012, used on Michigan State forward Draymond Green. Both franchises’ transaction histories confirm the players, date and draft outcome. Golden State was not acquiring an existing NBA star in this exchange; it obtained a player who was quickly waived and the right to select a prospect in the following year. New Jersey wanted immediate frontcourt changes and let go of a second-round option. That seemingly minor asset became the decisive long-run value.
Green Became a Multi-Championship Defensive Leader
Green joined the Warriors as a rookie in 2012-13, then developed into an indispensable defensive organizer and passing forward for their championship era. He later won NBA Defensive Player of the Year and multiple NBA championships, providing far greater return than would ordinarily be expected from the 35th pick. His versatility allowed Golden State to use smaller, faster lineups around Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson without losing interior defensive coordination. This playing value directly connects to the future draft selection acquired from New Jersey in 2011. The Warriors A- inherited grade reflects getting an exceptionally productive player from a low pick while giving up two comparatively expendable bigs. Murphy never supplied a new Golden State regular-season career after being acquired: he was waived within days, underscoring that the draft right was the true winning asset.
Neither Incoming Nets Forward Matched the Draft Outcome
Gadzuric and Wright were legitimate NBA frontcourt players, but their New Jersey stays were limited. Neither became a long-term Nets defensive cornerstone. New Jersey also gave up the opportunity to use the No. 35 pick or exchange it for another future asset, an enormous missed value in hindsight. The Nets D+ grade is tied to that opportunity cost rather than claiming its two acquired players had no professional basketball skills. Green’s later career cannot be credited to Murphy, who did not play significant Warriors minutes, but it can be traced to the actual selection Golden State obtained. This trade also occurred on the same date as the Nets blockbuster Deron Williams acquisition; the two agreements are distinct and must not be combined into a fictional single package. The overlooked second-round pick is the central narrative.
Final Verdict
Warriors Win. Golden State earns A- for the 2012 No. 35 second-round pick it used on Draymond Green, a future Defensive Player of the Year and championship cornerstone. New Jersey receives D+ for Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric, whose limited Nets tenure did not match the long-term value of the traded pick.