Age: 23Position: WingExpiration: 2027 (team option)Projected value: A good veteran who fits Warriors systemBest fits: Wizards, Jazz, Pelicans, Kings Suns
Following a protracted contract negotiation this offseason, the Warriors signed Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year, $47 million deal and held firm on an arrangement where Kuminga would waive his implicit no-trade clause, thus making him eligible to be dealt without restriction on Jan. 15. That date has come and gone, Kuminga remains on the team, and he has “demanded” a trade. Things are going great.
After a positive start in which Kuminga seemed to embrace some of the finer points of the game — such as off-ball movement, quick decision-making as a passer and defense — that coach Steve Kerr wanted from him, Kuminga regressed in those areas and then missed seven games with an injury. He’s healthy again, but thanks to the emergence of players such as Pat Spencer and De’Anthony Melton, he went about a month without playing. In my opinion, the Warriors weren’t asking for much from Kuminga. They had three star players in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Because Green and Kuminga aren’t great shooters and Butler is not a consistent threat from 3, Kuminga needed to bring value in other areas when he takes the court. He hasn’t been able to consistently do that.
Another twist to the situation came this week when Butler tore his ACL. Without Butler, does the team look to consistently reintegrate Kuminga, who played 21 minutes Tuesday against Toronto, into the equation? Does the team give up on this season and try to build for the future? Questions abound about how the Warriors will handle this.
If the Warriors decide to cut the cord, someone will be happy to take a chance on Kuminga over the last part of the season because he’s an immense athletic presence with serious downhill driving ability. He has real scoring potential, and while his contract is expensive, the team that acquires him has all of the control regarding whether he’ll be on the roster next year because of the team option. Kuminga is definitely an upside bet for another team. Look for him to get flipped for a player or players who can help the Warriors more substantially right now.