The Wizards are the latest potential suitor to emerge in the Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, who reports that Washington has entered the picture within the last 24 hours. The idea of the 22-year-old forward fitting into the Wizards’ rebuild has “gained real momentum,” sources tell Slater.
In addition to Washington, the Kings, Heat, Bulls, Bucks, and Nets have all expressed “varying levels” of interest in the Warriors‘ restricted free agent, Slater writes.
Confirming prior reporting out of Sacramento, Slater says the Kings floated an offer that would include 2024 first-round pick Devin Carter, veteran forward Dario Saric, and a pair of second-round picks. However, Golden State views that as a “buy-low” attempt, per Slater, who suggests the Pacific rivals haven’t gained any real traction.
Both the Warriors and Kuminga appear willing to be patient in the hopes of getting what they want out of the process, Slater explains. From the team’s perspective, that would mean acquiring a promising young player and a first-round pick in any sign-and-trade scenario. For Kuminga, the goal is ending up in a situation where he feels he has the full support of an organization and its coaching staff and can be a featured part of a team’s core.
If there’s no resolution by the time the Las Vegas Summer League tips off next week, the tentative plan is for Kuminga’s camp to have in-person meetings with interested teams in Vegas, Slater notes.
One of those meetings could involved the Warriors. As Slater details, the idea of the former No. 7 overall pick working out a deal to remain in Golden State isn’t off the table, so there has been talk of Kuminga, agent Aaron Turner, head coach Steve Kerr, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. sitting down together in Vegas to discuss what a reunion might look like.
Kuminga appeared in just 47 games in 2024/25, having missed more than two months due to a badly sprained ankle. He had an inconsistent role when healthy, averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes per game, with a .454/.305/.668 shooting line.
Although he was out of the Warriors’ rotation entirely for some key games at the end of the regular season and in the postseason, Kuminga averaged 24.3 points per game on .554/.389/.720 shooting in his final four playoff games vs. Minnesota after Stephen Curry injured his hamstring, providing a reminder of his offensive upside ahead of his restricted free agency.
I would love a sign-and-trade for Daniel Gafford. Wouldn’t happen but would be great for GS.
I Wish!!!
If that’s the current price to beat them half the league should atleast be interested or in discussions.
Low key Kuminga for Wiggins could actually be a decent trade.
It’s a better return than Saric, Carter and 2 seconds. He knows the GSW system and was a champ there. He’s got his flaws no doubt but as a likely third option and paired on the wing with Jimmy they’d be a real threat.
As for Miami he’s only 22 and had two really solid seasons. Real raw but full of potential.
A core of Herro Kuminga Bam Ware and then the likes of Kasparas, Larson and Jovic aswell they had a nice thing going there. Sets them up better for a Giannas trade also
I think the kings made a fair offer. Idk what GS thinks they’re getting. It’s a sign and trade of a guy who at this point is pretty average.
A promising young player and a first round pick is crazy.
GS is looking for a better fit than Kuminga, not to just dump Kuminga for nothing. Carter was a defense first PG in a bad draft that struggled. Saric isnt worth a roster spot, and two 2nds is not compensation.
If a team wants Kuminga they need to give up a player worth a rotation spot, or a couple picks to go get one. GSW dont think he isnt valuable they just want a better fit. If the offer doesnt make the team better than just with Kuminga this year why would they do it?
The whole point of the deal is they dont have time to wait around and tolerate bad min while Kuminga figures it out. If they arent improved this year none of the players on offer have the long term upside of JK.
Sounds like a plan
So let’s just do a recap…. 2023 trade deadline… GSW could have sent out:
Poole, Wiseman, Kuminga, and a FRP for Kevin Durant.
Poole was sent out along with a 2027 2nd and 2030 FRP for CP3.
Wiseman was traded for 2 SRPs and GP2.
Kuminga is about to get dealt and net like 2 SRPs.
So instead of having Kevin Durant since the 2023 deadline… they lost a FRP, netted 2 SRPs, and landed GP3.
And people on here didn’t want to pull the tigger and trade Wiseman or Kuminga…
That was not the ask for Durant at all. The salary matching alone for Durant in 23 required one of Klay or Green in the package to make it work along with all the young players and all the picks. Also he probably didnt want to go back to GSW then so why would they trade for him. Same as last summer.
Poole was sent out for CP3 to get off his contract before the new CBA made it a worse deal, and the 1st is top 20 protected so its not much.
Wiseman was traded while he still had value for 5 2nds, and you wouldnt have gotten that now.
They will just keep him rather than two 2nds…
THAT TRADE WAS NEVER AN OPTION! THEY COULD NEVER GET DURANT FOR THAT!
Wrong. Durant wanted to leave the Warriors in 2019. The trade eventually lead to them acquiring Wiggins and Kuminga.
Poole and Wiggins lead to them acquiring Butler.
What trade interest did the Warriors have in Durant in 2023?
All of these teams seeing the potential of Kuminga and wanting him. Yet the Warriors are devaluing him. The franchise is terrible for young players
Fit matters within your starting 5. You really want to play the only Steph can shoot past 15′ lineups. Welcome to the modern NBA where you cant play 4 non shooters no matter the talent.
How are they devaluing him? They offered him $30million, and he turned it down. He was hardly an offensive juggernaut last season.
Post, Podz, and Moody are still young players. The trio had very good seasons. So, it is hard to say the Warriors are terrible for young players.
Somebody spread a rumour recently that Washington were offering SA 6th pick + Sarr for the 2nd pick. If true, that was smart by Washington. And smart by SA to deny it, of course.
If this Kuminga to Washington rumour is true, and they are working on the deal, it means that they are not hopeless. In case you didn’t watch the Wizards last year (most of you didn’t, of course), they had one of, if not the least talented group of players to go out on NBA courts ever. I’m not kidding, they finished with the 2nd-worst point differential in league history for a reason. And it’s not that they tanked, it’s that those guys looked like they don’t have skills, talents, and don’t have a future in the league. Carrington, Sarr, bust Johny Davis, JR Thor, Colby Jones looked awful to various degrees. The coach had a big part to play, too, of course.
Kyshawn and Bilal are OK, but in this league, where each team has so much talent on their rosters, it’s simply not enough. Champagnie, who went undrafted 4 years ago, looked like the best hooper out there.
The team really needs somebody with an upside, somebody who can become a part of something, or have real value as an asset. Kuminga can be that. GS did a good job of sandbagging his value. If Washington can get him for a reasonable value, it will be a good move. Give him minutes, channel his hate towards Kerr into basketball, and he might blossom.
The guy is 22 years old, he’s younger than just about anyone in his class, and is similar in age to many players from the 22 and the 23 drafts. Only 3 months older than Thompson twins; the same age as Miller. 6 months younger than Chet and Mathurin, 16 months younger than Mobley and Jalen Johnson, who were drafted the same year.
Whats the return from WAS? Who do they have that helps GSW win this year? Im not matching salary for Smart or Middleton since that would cost a lot more matching than Kuminga alone, and both will probably be bought out and are negative assets. Everything else on the roster that isnt 2 washed dudes is more raw than Kuminga. I dont even think they have a way to match, and GSW can only take back half of the eventual Kuminga salary with BYC.
I actually really like what WAS has done since they brought in the new FO. I think they have made a bunch of really smart moves to set themselves up for later, but they still need a star.
They made moves, but those moves don’t move the needle. Used cap space but only acquired 2nds, while Brooklyn acquired a good 22nd pick in this draft by taking 1 guy for 15m AAV for 3 years in that Porzingis trade.
They had a bunch of guys who could have had more value had they not been so awful with that coach. Poole, Kuzma could have returned more. Valanciunas only brought a couple of 2nds. Brogdon they didn’t even trade. The team needs more than those marginal moves.
And don’t even mention Avdija… Such a brilliant player, so much potential, amazing contract, traded away for 1frp and Carrington… That move made me lose all faith in them.
GS needs bigs and forwards, and that’s exactly what Washington don’t have. Vukcevic would definitely be of interest for GS, a big and can hit a 3, had a good end to the last season, comes from a proper basketball background (Real Madrid academy) and played in leagues in Europe; Champagnie too, an excellent rebounder and a real no-nonsense pro. But idk with those 2, Washington will probably be reluctant to give them. I would be.
Holmes (13m) is a big and not useless. It would probably have to be Holmes, one of the 2 guys I mentioned and 2nd rounders. No way they would give frps. In terms of players, that’s a much better return than Saric and that 6″ guard Sacramento were offering.
There’s also Kispert (13m), who’s on a very nice long-term contract. It’d be interesting to see what both teams would value Kuminga and Kispert in a trade. Personally, I’d rather trade Kispert if it allowed Champagnie and Vukcevic to stay. Olynyk (13m) is there now, I’m sure Washington would like to trade him. Other than those guys, nobody else makes sense, salary-wise or as a product on the court.
I like the drafting they have been doing. I think Sarr and Bilal are interesting. Also clearing 100M in cap space for next summer when there are at least at this point some real interesting FA is fun. They can also be the team getting the first to take on Mann if that works out better.
They should have traded Kuzma sooner he was worth more the year before for sure.
Poole never really had positive value on WAS, and they were lucky he rebounded after that first year of brutal shaqtin moments. This may have been the perfect time to get off his money.
You were never getting more than a second or two for Valanciunas.
Avdija seemed fine at the time, maybe even a little over pay. Its a rough one when a guy takes a leap as soon as you deal him.
Vuc was really insanely hot from 3 to start last year and then trash for 5 months after. Like he does one thing non negative and thats shooting, but he hasnt shot well the last 2 years outside of one hot 6 week stretch. Vuc is soooo bad on defense. He also forces you into playing drop since thats the only scheme he can handle. Like Quentin Post is probably better than Vuc this season. He shoots better and is also bad on defense. It sounds like if he doesnt retire theyre getting Horford anyways.
Kisperts interesting. For some reason I thought they already dealt him in one of the other moves. He fits better than Kuminga now, but he has almost no upside beyond what he is already.
Avdija always had it in him. I’ll list a group of players: Jokic, Doncic, Sengun, Avdija, Wembanyama. You know what they all had in common? All of them were clearly the best players, standout players in their domestic leagues, on a very good level at ages 17-18-19. Jokic was the best player and the MVP of the Balkan league (3-5 best in Europe); Doncic was the best player in the Spanish league (No.1 league in Europe), and in the Euroleague, so the best player on the continent; Avdija was the MVP of the Israeli league (very good level, 5-6 best in Europe); Sengun was the MVP of the Turkish league (2-3 best in Europe, very tough league), Wemby was the MVP and the best player of the French league (4-6 best in Europe).
I’m not talking “the most-promising player under 21”, a rookie of the year, a rising star, or anything like that. I’m talking the absolute best player in the competition. Competing for a place in a team where it’s not like NBA where they will pamper you if you’re a high pick, oh no, you have to carve out a place for yourself out there. And leading a team to titles. At age 18. If you have those players in some of the best leagues in Europe, they are special. And if the scouts don’t see it, they are doing a poor job.
Bilal was a good pick. Sarr and everybody else they took in 2024, I don’t want to be too harsh on the team for taking them. Everyone said it was the weakest class ever. Washington had 4 of those guys, and it sure looked like it. They looked awful, for the most part. Sarr has a lot to prove; he didn’t show much, IMO.
Vukcevic, not Vucevic. A different player – a young Italian big that shoots 3, with a promising future. Vucevic is still in Chicago :)
I’m 99% sure Kispert would look better and more valuable in GS than in Washington. He’s a better player than Buddy, I’d say. Smarter, has a bigger repertoire. I have particular feelings towards Kispert, because he was drafted one spot before Sengun, who was the best player available at the time, and other quality players in that 2021 deep draft. Reason? Washington wanted a ready 22 y.o. to help Beal win now… I sat there heartbroken in front of my screen when they took Kispert and Sengun went next… Not a player’s fault, but every time I see him play I think back to that night of the 2021 draft.
If there’s a 1:1 Kuminga for Kispert, with no other players, maybe a couple of 2nds, that would be an excellent deal for Washington.
Who spread the rumor? Who is your source? You can get a 1,000 rumors for a dime at Walmart these days. The Dollar Store doesn’t carry rumors anymore. Not enough shelf space. They rot after a couple hours. They thrive on volume.
Sixers trade Grimes for Kuminga…that would answer all questions and solve a ll problema….maybe