TL;DR
- Jonathan Kuminga's trade availability is restricted until January 15 due to his new contract.
- The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns showed interest in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga but valuations differed.
- The Golden State Warriors are evaluating internal options and player availability before the January 15 trade eligibility.
- The Warriors face a decision to accept a reduced offer for Kuminga or retain him.
The Golden State Warriors may still end up trading Jonathan Kuminga.
A sign-and-trade wasn't finalized during the summer. While both the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns showed interest in such a deal, the teams apparently couldn't agree on a mutually acceptable valuation.
It could still happen during this season, but there's a key date to know: January 15.
Kuminga is unavailable for trade until then due to a new contract he signed with The Warriors during 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 talented player, though he might not be an ideal match for The Warriors' present team composition. Can we find someone available who's comparably skilled but fills a more advantageous position for Golden State? That's likely an unrealistic expectation.
The Warriors face a choice: accept a reduced offer for Kuminga in a trade or retain him.
Whatever they decide, though, nothing tangible can happen until January 15.
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