The Golden State Warriors have two players in mind who can make them reconsider their earlier stance on a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade to their division rival Sacramento Kings.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, forward Keegan Murray and defensive-minded guard Keon Ellis are the two players the Warriors “would likely want” in a potential sign-and-trade with their in-division rivals.
“However, the Kings have given zero indications that they will part ways with either player, especially given the notion that Kuminga wants out,” Siegel wrote on July 24.
Previously, the Kings offered Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and a protected first-round pick for the Warriors’ under-utilized 22-year-old forward. But the Warriors did not budge.
“This is a proposal that Golden State has not given any thought to and immediately turned down. Malik Monk is another name who has come up in trade talks from Sacramento this offseason, but his contract isn’t one that the Dubs have expressed interest in,” Siegel wrote.
3 Kings With Different Gifts
GettyJonathan Kuminga being defended by Keegan Murray.
Monk has three years left on his escalating four-year, $78 million extension he signed with the Kings last year. He is due for $18.8 million next season, $20.2 million the following season and $21.6 million player option on the final year.
The Warriors have to add more salaries unless they sign Kuminga to more than $30 million in annual salary, because only 50% of his outgoing salary counts for matching purposes, per the CBA’s base year compensation rule. But Kuminga’s full salary counts as the incoming salary for whichever team acquires him.
Monk averaged a career-high 17.2 points last season, taking the point guard chores for the Kings after trading away franchise star De’Aaron Fox.
Meanwhile, Murray was the fourth overall pick in 2022. The 6-foot-8 forward is a 37.2% 3-point shooter during his first three seasons in the NBA, which fits the Warriors’ style of play. He shot a career-best 41.1% from the 3-point distance during his rookie year.
On the other hand, Ellis will enter unrestricted free agency after next season. He is currently on a bargain deal, earning just $2.3 million next season. He’s earned a reputation as a defensive pest, often assigned to the opposing team’s best player.
Kuminga is hoping a sign-and-trade materializes for him to get out of Golden State and spread his wings.
Kuminga Wants One Thing the Warriors Can’t Give
The Kings and the Phoenix Suns have expressed a strong interest in acquiring Kuminga, according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
“They’re two of the more aggressive teams with Kuminga,” Charania said on “NBA Today” on July 24. “And they’re also offering him an opportunity for significant minutes, a starting caliber role in their lineup and those are two things that he wants more than anything.”
It’s something that the Warriors cannot guarantee Kuminga if he comes back next season.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr made that clear when he removed Kuminga from their playoff rotation and only re-inserted him when one of their stars — Jimmy Butler in the first round against the Rockets or Stephen Curry in the second round against the Timberwolves — was not available.
“I’ve been asked to win,” Kerr told The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” on May 21. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph, Jimmy, and Draymond [Green], and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
In the final four games of last season — all losses that ended Golden State’s playoff run — Kuminga averaged 24.3 points on 55.4% shooting and 38.9% from the 3-point line.
But to Kerr, it’s not just about numbers — it’s about winning.
Warriors Eye 2 Players for Kuminga: Report