For the past few months, there was an unequivocal expectation that Jonathan Kuminga wouldn’t end the season on the Golden State Warriors and that he would be traded at some point before the February 5th trade deadline.
That remains a very possible outcome, but at the same time, there is a very realistic world in which Kuminga stays with the Warriors for the rest of the season, according to the latest report on the 23-year-old forward.
According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, the trade market for Kuminga has cooled since the summer, following a long stalemate with the team as he negotiated an extension that finally concluded a few weeks before the season began. Additionally, Slater reported that Kuminga could very well not be dealt at the trade deadline, considering the ‘lessening’ trade market for him.
“One month prior to the trade deadline and eight days before Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible, the Warriors have not made substantial movement towards getting a Kuminga trade in place,” Slater wrote. “Team sources have said in recent days that they’d be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing enough materializes.”
“Team sources have said in recent days that they’d be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing enough materializes. That could be a strategic posture and it’s
Kuminga last played for Golden State on December 18th. On the season, he is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 43.1% shooting in 18 total appearances.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors And Warriors Future
While the latest report from Slater is a drastic shift from the dominant narrative on the Warriors and Kuminga for the past month, with all the recent evidence, it isn’t that surprising. At the same time that it’s become clear head coach Steve Kerr and Kuminga have not been on the same page, Golden State is shooting itself in the foot by leaving him on the bench.
While they are trying to get the most out of him in a potential trade, they are currently diminishing his trade value by the consistent DNP’s and Kerr’s unwillingness to address the situation head-on. That leads Golden State to where things are today, and the news that they won’t rule out keeping him past the trade deadline is just another mark for what feels like a botched Warriors season.
It’s posturing season. He’s very available, but Warriors are at least saying they’d be willing to keep Kuminga into summer if nothing appealing enough materializes.
“Rival executives are seeing what we’re all seeing,” Slater said on NBA Today. “Which is a 23-year-old young wing buried on the bench as the deadline approaches in a win-now time for the Warriors. And they’re saying ‘value must be going down on Jonathan Kuminga.’ What was available in the summer is lessening.”
Slater went on to say that the offers Golden State had on the table over the summer are no longer, and while some teams, specifically in the Sacramento Kings, might still be interested, they are no longer willing to pay the ‘old price.’
Several other franchises have shown interest in Kuminga over the past few months, but as NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote, any deal would likely have to include two other teams.
While it was previously a certainty that the Warriors would move Kuminga to get a player who would better help their championship hopes, that window is dwindling by the day.
Warriors Trade Rumors
Outside of Kuminga, whose future is now even murkier as it relates to where and when he’ll play basketball next, Golden State has been linked to a number of other players in the trade market.
Granted, some of the big names they’ve been reported to be going after would almost certainly require Kuminga in a deal. However, the Warriors don’t appear to be too keen on moving either Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, two players who, with their big contracts, would have to be traded if the front office wants to pair franchise star Stephen Curry with someone who could vault their title hopes.
The Warriors have been linked to Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks, as his future in Texas seems to be coming to an end. That would require a ton of assets to be moved, which doesn’t feel likely now. They’ve also been rumored to have interest in Trey Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans and Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets, but their value might be too steep for the Bay Area team to entertain in a trade.
Aside from those two, Golden State could use some size and shooting, which, aside from a few players, isn’t that deep in the current trade market.
“Two-way wing in his 20s under control on a contract without having to add a 1st rounder to deal,” ESPN insider Brian Windhorst wrote on the type of player the Warriors are hoping to land in a deal.
While Kuminga can’t be traded until January 15th, his contract, fit on the team, and dropping trade value have put the Warriors in a bind, and they aren’t doing themselves any favors as he continues to sit on the bench.
Warriors’ Kuminga Trade Rumors Take Unexpected Bizarre Twist