With Jonathan Kuminga reportedly feeling the Golden State Warriors scapegoat following his recent demotion and the organization’s struggles, a trade appears inevitable.
While Kuminga isn’t eligible to get traded until Jan. 15, the Stein Line’s Marc Stein believes the NBA champion forward’s trade value is relatively high, potentially leading to a successful blockbuster trade.
NESN’s Collin Keane took things a step further, predicting that the Dubs will cut ties with Kuminga in favor of an NBA champion Boston Celtics forward.
“Kuminga is a $22.5 million cap hit who has a team option for next season, so he’s essentially expiring,” Keane wrote Friday.
“He has the elite athleticism and two-way impact to slide into Boston’s lineup and impact winning, potentially pairing up with Jaylen Brown to take on the toughest defensive assignments against wings when JT (Jayson Tatum) comes back, making things easier for Tatum.”
“Keep in mind that the Warriors are looking for players that can help them win now (and over the next two or three years), also known as the Stephen Curry window. That’s exactly why getting a guy like (Sam) Hauser on an affordable deal over that span would be a good move.”
There’s no question that Hauser and the Warriors are a match made in heaven. With Hauser boasting a reputation for being highly productive from beyond the arc and the Warriors being notorious for letting it fly early and often, the two parties would benefit from a midseason trade centered around Kuminga.
While Hauser is struggling from deep to start the 2025-26 season (32.3% three-point shooting percentage), his 41.3% career three-point shooting percentage undoubtedly tells the story for the Marquette product as a knockdown long-range sniper.
Kuminga, on the other hand, has failed to shoot above 37% from three-point land in a season and has connected on 33.2% of his triples for his career, explaining why he’s found it challenging to thrive with a Warriors squad that prioritizes three-point shooting.
Keane’s intriguing concept could soon become a reality for the championship-craving Warriors.
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