The Golden State Warriors can finally exhale after a stressful offseason, as Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract with the franchise on Wednesday.
However, that doesn’t mean the 6-foot-7 forward will be a Warrior for the foreseeable future. In fact, many believe that Golden State will try their best to wash their hands with Kuminga before the 2025-26 trade deadline.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey predicts the Warriors and Heat will partner to complete a midseason deal centered around the former lottery pick.
“Would the Warriors be interested in an Andrew Wiggins reunion,” Bailey wrote Wednesday. “They parted ways with one of the most important players from their 2022 title run to land Jimmy Butler, but the situation with Miami has evolved to the point that it should be interested in stockpiling younger talent.”
“The last few years suggest a Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo core, absent Butler, isn't a title contender. Eyeing the long-term future by prioritizing the development of players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis and, in the event of a trade, Kuminga, might be a wise approach.”
“And for the Warriors, there wouldn't be a learning curve for Wiggins with the read-and-react system. Like (DeMar) DeRozan, he could slot into a dynamic sixth man's role. Or, because he already has so much experience with Golden State, he might even be able to play some jumbo 2-guard with (Stephen) Curry, Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford.”
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Kuminga and the Heat have been linked to each other since last December. After a strong start to the year, things quickly went downhill for the Warriors, prompting some to speculate that the organization would complete a season-altering trade to get them back on track.
The Dubs had their sights set on Jimmy Butler, and with Kuminga being an ideal up-and-coming contributor to help Miami rebuild, a Butler and Kuminga swap seemed inevitable.
Surprisingly, the Warriors elected to sacrifice Wiggins in a massive Feb. 5 trade that helped the seven-time NBA champions land Butler.
Considering Kuminga and the Warriors haven’t seen eye to eye since the expected deal, it would be in Golden State’s best interest to send the Goma, DR Congo native to Miami during the midway point of the upcoming season in favor of a reunion with Wiggins.
Wiggins’ stable three-point shooting and defensive versatility make him a better fit with the Dubs moving forward, which should help them avoid investing in Kuminga long-term.
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