Buried on the Golden State Warriors’ bench, fifth-year veteran Jonathan Kuminga is in search of a contemporary begin.
The vacations aren’t over but, at the least from a hardwood perspective.
The following landmark on the NBA calendar is rapidly approaching, because the 2026 commerce deadline is scheduled for Feb. 5. Past the continued dominance of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the chase for the NBA Finals is comparatively open, as many can be wheeling and dealing to extend their odds of standing among the many remaining two or just rebuild for a future run.
Ballislife can be retaining tabs on names doubtlessly on the transfer on the deadline. This sequence begins with the potential transfer of Golden State Warriors ahead Jonathan Kuminga…
The Participant: Jonathan KumingaThe Present Group: Golden State WarriorsThe Contract: $24.3 million membership choice for 2026-27
The Skinny on Kuminga
A yield from G League Ignite, Kuminga was a rookie depth star throughout the Warriors’ final championship run in 2022. The seventh choose of the 2021 draft (chosen instantly earlier than Franz Wagner and 9 picks earlier than All-Star Alperen Şengün) loved a breakout season in his third tour when Draymond Inexperienced handled lower-body points.
A knee damage of his personal considerably derailed Kuminga’s profession momentum, however he earned a two-year, $48.8 million contract extension for his work thus far. This time round, medical hypotheticals have gotten in the way in which: Kuminga and the Warriors have been at an deadlock since their first sport of the calendar yr in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis.
With the highest of the Warriors’ depth chart decimated by damage, the stage was set for prolonged Kuminga minutes (which had been partly worn out in favor of Quentin Submit because the spell 4), however he was a late addition to the damage report as a consequence of again soreness. A joint report from Sam Amick, Nick Friedell, and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic said that some inside the Warriors group thought he was not really injured, solely additional souring an already tepid relationship.
Kuminga has not taken the ground since, along with his final displaying being 10 minutes off the bench in a loss in Phoenix on Dec. 18. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Jan. 15 that Kuminga has requested a commerce out of the Bay Space. Kuminga wasted no time, as Thursday was the primary day he may very well be moved beneath the phrases of his present contract.
The Curiosity in Kuminga
As a 23-year-old lottery choose from the early a part of this decade, Kuminga ought to appeal to strong curiosity: he was a fringe contributor to a championship as a young person and posted strong stats (14.9 factors and 6.8 rebounds, albeit with a turnover drawback) within the first dozen video games of this tour earlier than he was changed by rookie Will Richard in Golden State’s try to play smaller. From there, the arrogance in Kuminga has dwindled, and issues reached all-time low with the damage report incident in opposition to the Thunder.
With a membership choice on Kuminga going into 2026-27, it is doable the Warriors may hold on to him within the identify of testing his worth as an expiring contract on the offseason market. However trying to capitalize on no matter’s left of the Stephen Curry period (the Warriors place second on the Western Play-In bracket, three video games out of the final of the automated six berths, getting into Thursday evening play), the quick focus may flip to scoring, rebounding, or mid-range capturing.
Kuminga’s reported request begins a little bit of a countdown, however some within the Golden State group might really feel it is too late: the longer he stays nailed to the Chase Middle bench, the additional his deadline worth plummets. The Athletic trio experiences that the Sacramento Kings beforehand supplied Malik Monk and a protected first-round choose for Kuminga’s companies over the offseason, however that current occasions doubtless takes that deal out of consideration.
Who Would possibly Name for Jonathan Kuminga?
Kuminga is a traditional rollercoaster lottery choose case the place a change of surroundings, even in a rebuilding atmosphere, may very well be the very best factor for his profession.
His work throughout the 2021 Finals run and final postseason (hitting 40 % from three in eight showings) exhibits that he can contribute to a victorious trigger. For now, that stands as window dressing in his case for Affiliation longevity. Character-building in an instantly misplaced trigger will give him an opportunity to tackle a bigger highlight and generate some lasting movie alternatives.
Each Charania and The Athletic trio report that Golden State is fascinated about expiring contracts. The Kuminga inactivity has partly led to this relative desperation: with Kuminga joined by draft classmate Moses Moody, Golden State has fallen into the midst of lottery mediocrity, headlined by the notorious 2020 choice of James Wiseman.
Brooklyn Nets
This present iteration of the Brooklyn rebuild has afforded a possibility for a number of of its individuals (i.e., Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dennis Schröder) to tackle increased alternatives on contenders. Kuminga may very well be the newest to tackle such a task on Atlantic Avenue, the place he’d function a de facto elder statesman on a staff packed to the brim with current draft picks.
Brooklyn doubtlessly holds probably the most attainable quick difference-maker in Michael Porter Jr., although his sizable cap hit (over a $75 million cap hit over the following two excursions) would most likely drive the Warriors so as to add an additional name-brand piece like Moody and/or Buddy Hield.
Dallas Mavericks
It is most likely far too late for the Mavericks to search out redemption for the notorious Luka Dončić deal, particularly with Anthony Davis sidelined by damage but once more. Even in absentia, Davis is perhaps on the commerce block (Atlanta is reportedly mentioned to have an interest after unloading Trae Younger), so the Mavs may look to rebuild the highest of their put up depth chart, utilizing Kuminga and Daniel Gafford (in addition to the ailing Derek Vigorous) as sturdy put up enhances for the comfort prize of Cooper Flagg.
Expiring veteran contracts on the Dallas roster embody Dwight Powell and D’Angelo Russell, who may function some backcourt depth to stop overworking Curry and Jimmy Butler.
Sacramento Kings
The Warriors may nonetheless be capable of make the most of the seemingly inevitable royal teardown: they’re doubtless not going to web Domantas Sabonis, however may very well be persuaded to take one other comparatively younger mission going by means of an analogous scenario in Keon Ellis. Veteran middle Drew Eubanks may additionally be an choice, particularly if the Warriors additionally transfer on from present beginning 5 Al Horford.
Monk may additionally nonetheless be on the desk, although it is perhaps Golden State that has to maneuver a choose on this explicit situation.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
