SHOULD the Phoenix Suns ROLL THE DICE on a Jonathan Kuminga Sign-and-Trade?

SHOULD the Phoenix Suns ROLL THE DICE on a Jonathan Kuminga Sign-and-Trade?

We’ve talked pretty in depth, I think, about the different options with the Warriors, how a signing trade would look based on what amount you sign him to if you were to figure out a sign and trade, whether it would be Grayson or Royce or Nick Richards, what combination it would take. I think we should mention again that the Suns do not have a tradeable first round pick. So, that kind of hurts your negotiating stance. You really want your this other trade partner to want your role players. and Brett Seagull, who came on the show last week, said basically that, you know, they’re they’re looking at offers for Grayson Royce. They’re figuring out what they could turn them into, but the Warriors are not interested in Grayson because of his contract. I I don’t think it’s that big of a contract. It’s only like 16 17 million a year for the next three years. But apparently for the Warriors, they’re not interested in that. So, we did get word from Sham Shirania today that the Suns have been quote aggressive in pursuing a sign and trade for Jonathan Kuminga and have made concrete offers while offering him a starting caliber role, but the Warriors are not interested in Phoenix’s offers, which you know, again, Brett told us that last week. Stephen, your thoughts on the latest in the Kaminga sign and trade saga. So just for learning purposes you all. So let’s put our learning caps on. Gerald, I’m gonna tap back into your um understanding of the CBA and salary cap. So the Suns do, let’s say they find a miraculous way to entice the Warriors into Grayson Allen, let’s just say, and they’re able to push this sign and trade idea across the finish line. Sure. What are the implications that that ultimately has for the Suns after they just undid a lot of the wrongs that they had going on by way of uh finding a way off of Bradley Bill’s contract at least in a significant portion of it. Yeah. So again, it depends on the amount that you sign him for, but if you acquire a player by sign and trade, no matter what the amount is, you have to sign him to at least a three-year contract. So you can’t do like a one year or twoear sign and trade. So he’s on the books for at least three to four years. In addition to that, when you acquire a player by sign and trade, if you were above the cap and below the first tax apron, it hardcaps you at the first tax apron, which is 195.9 million. So, if you get hardcapped at that amount, you cannot cross 195.9 million in salary for the rest of the year. So, they’re not I think they’re about 8.9 million below that amount right now. So whatever they signed Jonathan Kaminga for in terms of how the math works out, you could not be taking on like an extra 9 million in cap space through that deal. Otherwise, you would be at that apron. That would hard cap you and the deal wouldn’t be able to go through. So that’s something to keep in mind. Uh, and for those wondering, when you’re looking at that first year salary in terms of the math and the financials and what they can take back based on who they’re sending out, if it’s just Grayson Allen straight up going to the Warriors, the that first year of salary would have to be in the 19 to $24 million range. Personally, I think the Warriors would just sign him for that amount because their camp has been closer to 20 million based on what we’ve heard. Kaminga has been closer to 30 million. So, if it’s 19 to 24 million, I think for the Warriors, they would probably count that as a win and just keep him. Um, if it’s in the 25 to$29 million range for that first year, uh, Allen plus Nick Richards is what it would look like. Um, and if it’s 25 to30 million, Allen plus Royce O’Neal works, but only if Royce O’Neal is absorbed into the Warriors uh, non-t taxpayer mid-level exception. Gotcha. So, these are all things to keep in mind as we’re talking about these deals because I don’t think any of these other guys are on the table. Like, they’re not going to wheel and deal Jaylen Green for Jonathan Kuminga. I am personally I I just don’t like the deal. If if you include being hardcapped, if you include the fact that they don’t have a pick, so it feels unlikely. If you include the fact that like they spent a lot of the summer ducking the aprons and now they’re getting close to that hard cap. Mhm. I I I just don’t feel good enough about the fit of Kaminga to be interested in that personally. For sure. So now this is me asking an actual question from me, not just for the masses to learn. This is actually me. So if they are to go the route of sending to the Warriors, u Grayson Allen and Nick Richards. Of course, the Warriors have been linked to Al Horford. Yes. If the Suns bring in Kaminga, is there a way for the Suns to pivot to Al Horford based off of what you can kind of assume he might be getting on the market? Potentially. I think I mean for starters, we should acknowledge the fact that like from the Warriors perspective, they probably would just rather figure out what they’re doing with Kaminga and then sign Al Horford rather than have Nick Richards. But in this scenario, if they did suddenly want Nick Richards and say, “Nah, we’re good on 40year-old Al Horford.” basically. Um I think the Suns would be able to do it, but it does depend on the amount that they sign Kaminga for and they would have limited avenues to do it. You’re probably dipping into the MLE, but you do have to be aware of that hard cap because Grayson and Nick Richards outgoing salary would be about 21.8 million. So if you’re signing Kaminga to 30 million for that first year, there goes that that buffer that you had between them and the first tax apron. And at that point, you can’t go above it even with the MLE to sign an Al Horford or anybody else. So, that’s something to keep an eye on. And I do think as much as we’re talking about sign and trade scenarios, if they don’t get something done, I would not be surprised if they go into the season with that 15th roster spot open. Yeah. Cuz like we talked about yesterday, Jordan Goodwin, non-G guaranteed deal, the contract that they claimed off waiverss. Jared Butler, we reported non-G guaranteed deal. him and Goodwin are going to be competing for kind of that third starting or that third point guard spot in training camp. So that still leaves the 15th roster spot, but the Suns are barely above the luxury tax, I believe, right now. Um so if they do go with Goodwin and they don’t guarantee his contract, that’s an easy way to dip below the luxury tax before the season ends, then you avoid um you know joining that repeater tax, which the tax brackets changed this year. They got a lot more expensive. So, I know this is all very heavy financial talk, but these are things that are part of the calculus going on behind the scenes. And also, if you are in the luxury tax, your MLE drops from 14.1 million to like 5 million. So, you know, later in the season, if someone gets bought out or if you want to make a trade and absorb someone into your MLE, you’re probably going to want more space rather than 5 million or whatever it is. Yes. Um, so these are all things to keep in mind. I know a lot of people are very high on Kaminga. I was surprised how many people in our comments were high on Josh Kitty after the show. Me too. Um, but that hard caffing stuff is is serious business. I I really I think the Suns have to feel very strongly about the person they’re bringing in and the fit short-term and long term to do that to themselves when they just waved and stretched Bradley Beal to kind of get out of this capell that they found themselves in. For sure. So I guess with all of that and kind of taking it all in, I just feel like I think there is something there with Jonathan Kaminga. The question is though, is it worth it for the Suns to roll the dice, have the restraints that come with bringing him in via signing trade and then having to find other ways to go about creatively building out the rest of the roster and going forward. I just don’t know. I just don’t know if it’s worth it. Yeah, I think that’s kind of what it comes down to at this present moment. I would tell them just stand pat. You’ve done great work with the facilities that you have had this off season. Maybe just be patient, wait for the next opportunity to come up and then maybe that makes more sense for you. [Applause] [Music]

The Phoenix Suns have done well pivoting from the Big 3 era to a young core around Devin Booker, as Jordan Ott prepares for his first season as a head coach. In that has risen opportunity to, in theory, add a piece that aligns with the teams age range as well as addressing a position they could use more depth at. Can the Suns get Jonathan Kuminga? What are the ramifications? Stephen PridGeon-Garner and Gerald Bourguet dive into it all, right here

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