A Jonathan Kuminga trade seems like a done deal at this point.
The 6-foot-7 Golden State Warriors forward hasn't played in a game since Dec. 18, and considering the Warriors can ill-afford to have an unproductive trade season, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that trading Kuminga is the wisest move the franchise can make.
However, according to a recent report, the Warriors may find it challenging to cut ties with Kuminga before the deadline, which is awful news for the franchise.
“Latest on Jonathan Kuminga, a month out to the trade deadline on NBA Today,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater stated on X/Twitter.
“It’s posturing season. He’s very available, but Warriors are at least saying they’d be willing to keep Kuminga into summer if nothing appealing enough materializes.”
Simply put, the Warriors don’t feel comfortable trading Kuminga for just anybody.
Stephen Curry needs another game-changing asset by his side moving forward, and if Golden State can land a player of that caliber in a trade centered on Kuminga, the franchise has made it clear they'd be content to retain the 23-year-old.
Kunminga, who’s averaging 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on 43.1% field goal shooting and 32.0% three-point shooting with the Warriors in Year 5, could surprisingly find himself in a Golden State uniform beyond the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
If that ends up being the case, it'll be safe to say that the Warriors won't escape mediocrity anytime soon and contend for a championship.
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