TL;DR
- Jonathan Kuminga returned Saturday after a knee injury, scoring 10 points and two assists.
- Kuminga remains a top trade prospect for the Warriors due to team difficulties.
- The Warriors may trade Kuminga for frontcourt depth and athletic wings.
- Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are among teams interested in Kuminga.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga made his comeback to the court this past Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, having been sidelined for several games because of a knee ailment.
In his initial appearance back with The Dubs, Kuminga performed well, tallying 10 points and two assists, making half of his field goal attempts and 40% of his three-point shots.
Nonetheless, Kuminga remains a top trade prospect for The Warriors by mid-November, given the Dubs' persistent difficulty in maximizing the potential of the skilled 23-year-old NBA champion.
In ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel’s mind, there’s a good chance the Warriors will move on from the Goma, DR Congo native if the right trade package is presented to the franchise.
“The expectation is that the Warriors will be evaluating all options on the trade market regarding experienced frontcourt depth and athletic wings,” Siegel wrote Friday.
“Should Kuminga be traded, the Dubs will do so with the intention of adding size and a player on the wing who could fill the role (Andrew) Wiggins held during his time with Golden State.”
“As far as suitors for Kuminga go, the regulars are still relevant. Interest from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings will exist prior to the trade deadline, much like this past summer.”
“Bull/Sell Verdict: Buy Warriors trading Kuminga for wing and frontcourt depth… but it's still too early to say.”
The considerable attention Kuminga has garnered from various teams since last year strongly indicates his worth in potential trades.
Despite Kuminga's three-point accuracy not yet reaching its expected level five seasons into his professional journey, his exceptional aerial agility and captivating ability to accelerate with the ball are difficult to overlook.
However, exchanges are designed to be advantageous for everyone participating, meaning that even if a team from The Eastern or Western Conference is willing to gamble on Kuminga, the Dubs need to confirm that any proposed transaction offers value from their perspective.
Thus far, the Golden State Warriors have encountered an arrangement they find agreeable to finalize, yet circumstances might shift during the upcoming trade period.
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