Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is a clear trade candidate ahead of this year’s deadline, and it appears that several teams are interested in him.
It also sounds like his market could grow. One NBA general manager seems to believe that there are more teams that are going to get involved in the Kuminga sweepstakes.
“There will be teams no one is expecting getting involved with him,” the GM said, per Heavy Sports. “Everyone has known he is going to be traded. If you have not already called (the Warriors), it does not mean you’re not interested. It just means you’re going to wait until the 15th and call them.”
Kuminga’s Warriors tenure has been a bumpy one, and he has not played in a game for the team since Dec. 18. The former lottery pick has been in and out of the Warriors’ rotation at various points during his tenure, and a split at this season’s deadline would make sense for both sides.
This season, Kuminga has appeared in 18 games, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from 3-point range.
He began the season in the starting lineup for Golden State, but that didn’t last.
Kuminga is still just 23 years old, so there’s a chance he could have a strong second act in a new home. The youngster has been forced to fit into a team and offense catered to superstar Stephen Curry, and it appears that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr does not find Kuminga as a staple in his rotation.
So, a place where Kuminga would get more opportunities to showcase his skill set could be what he needs to unlock his full potential at the NBA level.
The Warriors are the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference at this point in the season with a 20-18 record. If they want to make a push for a top-six spot, they may need to get a trusted rotation piece – or more – back in a Kuminga deal before the trade deadline passes.
