The Golden State Warriors may still end up trading Jonathan Kuminga.
It didn't happen over the summer. The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns both expressed interest in a sign-and-trade, but evidently the teams couldn't come to a fair conclusion about value.
It could still happen during this season, but there's a key date to know: January 15.
Kuminga can't be moved before then because he signed a new contract with the Warriors in the offseason.
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ESPN's Anthony Slater laid out a lot of the Warriors' questions in a new article out Thursday:
"Two months of internal and external information gathering," Slater writes. "That Jan. 15 eligibility date on Kuminga's contract gives them an unofficial starting clock on trade season. Until then, the Warriors have questions to answer about themselves and the league. Does De'Anthony Melton look like a reasonable backcourt answer when he comes back from ACL rehab (expected in December)? Can Al Horford find a rhythm and bolster their shaky center depth? How is Kuminga playing and fitting as the season develops?"
Slater continued: "The fifth-year wing generated legitimate bites from only the Kings and Phoenix Suns in restricted free agency, but the Warriors didn't like what either offered in sign-and-trade packages. As situations change and Dunleavy is freed from the base year compensation issue, can he find an organization willing to give the type of return for Kuminga that owner Joe Lacob would require to green light? Will there be a player in a trade who will move the needle enough?"
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That really does work out as the toughest part of a Kuminga trade. When the rest of the league can sense Golden State wants to trade him, can they get enough value in return?
He's a good player, albeit one who may not fit perfectly with the Warriors' current roster construction. Is there a guy out there available who is basically as good but just plays a spot that's more useful for Golden State? That seems tough to expect.
The Warriors may have to decide whether to take 50 cents for a dollar in a Kuminga trade or just stick with him.
Whatever they decide, though, nothing tangible can happen until January 15.
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