Warriors trade idea swaps Jonathan Kuminga for 25.7 PPG scorer in All-Star conversation

Jeremy Beren

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Warriors trade idea swaps Jonathan Kuminga for 25.7 PPG scorer in All-Star conversation image

Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Jonathan Kuminga is done waiting around.

As soon as he became trade eligible on Thursday, Kuminga reportedly demanded a move away from the Golden State Warriors, where Steve Kerr has buried the fifth-year forward in his rotation. Kuminga, a former top-10 draft pick, has not played in any of the Warriors' past 13 games.

MORE: Jonathan Kuminga trade rumors: The three-team trade that gets the Warriors the best shooter on the market

Despite his lack of minutes, Kuminga is an attractive option on the trade market for rebuilding teams like the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings, and even a team in a contention window like the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kuminga is in the first season of a two-year, $48.5 million contract that contains a $24.3 million team option for the 2026-27 NBA season. This means that any team trading for Kuminga may well be trading for an expiring contract, and he would be a low-risk, high-reward option in the weeks before the NBA's Feb. 5 trade deadline.

AllSportsPeople' Stephen Noh has proposed a three-way trade that would send coveted wing Michael Porter Jr. To the Warriors while shipping Kuminga to the in-state rival Kings. The deal would look like this:

  • Warriors receive: Michael Porter Jr., Keon Ellis, Tyrese Martin
  • Kings receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield
  • Nets receive: Zach LaVine, Devin Carter, 2026 first round pick (via Warriors), 2028 first round pick (via Kings)

Porter is enjoying a career season with the Brooklyn Nets, and many around the NBA expect the Nets to deal their top trade asset before Feb. 5. Kings guard Keon Ellis, regarded as a superb defenders, would join Porter in Golden State as the Warriors eye another title for their dynastic core.

The Kings would get Kuminga and Moses Moody to spearhead their rebuild while shipping Zach LaVine's contract back to Brooklyn, where the Nets could easily absorb it.

The deal would work financially. Now it's a matter of the teams coming together and deciding whether to get it done.

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Editorial Team