With the Warriors off to an up-and-down start and sitting over .500 by a single game, there’s a growing expectation “in various corners of the league” that forward Jonathan Kuminga will be on the move prior to the February 5 trade deadline, Marc Stein writes for his Substack (subscription required).
While a veteran executive who spoke to Stein referred to Kuminga’s two-year, $46.8MM contract (which includes a second-year team option) as “one of the best trade chips in the league,” sources who talked to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps about Kuminga aren’t convinced that Golden State will be able to find a trade partner that covets the 23-year-old and is willing to send the Warriors the sort of value they’ll be seeking for the former No. 7 overall pick.
“Who is going to take him?” one Eastern Conference scout said. “And are they going to move him for stuff they don’t want, or just wait? It’s very hard to find a trade that makes sense for everyone.”
That same scout suggested that Kuminga, who is currently sidelined due to knee soreness, hasn’t done a whole lot so far this season to boost his trade value.
“He is who he is, even though he’s on the younger side,” the scout said. “He has looked better, and has been trying to fit in, but he still falls back into his old habits.”
We have more from around the Pacific Division:
- A pair of Los Angeles Dodgers executives – Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman – are serving as advisors with the Lakers during the transition from the Buss family to new owner Mark Walter, sources tell Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. As Shelburne explains, Zaidi and Friedman are functioning as senior executives with TWG Sports, the entity Walter created to oversee his sports holdings. Zaidi has been Walter’s representative during the transition process, according to Shelburne, while Friedman has consulted with general manager Rob Pelinka.
- Back with the Suns after signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract over the summer, point guard Collin Gillespie is enjoying his expanded role in Phoenix. Gillespie, one of the team’s top reserves, is averaging 10.5 points and 5.1 assists in 24.3 minutes per game off the bench as he makes a case to stick with the Suns beyond this season. “I would like to be here long-term,” he said (Twitter video link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). “It’s 15 games into the season. There’s a ton of time. I’m not even worried about that or focused on that right now. Just play the year out. Hopefully have a really good year. Win a lot of games and then focus on it after the season, but I would like to be here long-term.”
- Law Murray of The Athletic takes a look at some of the issues plaguing the 4-11 Clippers, including an inability to keep up with faster-paced offenses, poor point-of-attack defense, losing the rebounding and possession battles, and – in the words of head coach Tyronn Lue – a lack of “point-of-attack offensive guys that can create their own shots.”
Draymond, Buddy, Kuminga and 5 FRP for Giannis and Cole Anthony. Do it.
Not enough!
Dumbest trade ever. Giannis walks after next season and the Warriors are out 5 1sts. Curry will look at the s***show and call it a career. Riley will see the playoffs before the Warriors do.
Aprils still a few months away
Lol.
Falls into old habits… says it all. They should try and get a vet wing and low first rounder back. I mean they should try and get more but I’d be surprised if they did much better than that.
More than a 50/50 chance Warriors move Kuminga. By Jan 15th teams rebuilding or with a young core would be more lijkely to trade for him.
Clippers really are in a terrible spot.
Gave up their picks for PG and Kawhi.
Still no success on the court years later and Kawhi and Harden both have 2 years left on their deals and don’t see a future for them there being old and not winning. Your next best player Zubac is on an expiring deal.
The one good thing is there isn’t any long term expensive contracts but it’s hard to rebuild without picks.
They need to be active heading into the deadline cause they aren’t competitive and don’t have picks.
Some ideas:
1. Zubac for Wendell Carter Jr, Anthony Black and Jett Howard.
Magic go all in after Bane trade. Starting 5 of Suggs Bane Franz Paolo and Zu would be one of the best in the league and for depth Jones, Richardson, Da Silva, Issacs, Goga and Mo Wagner plus open roster spots.
Clippers get three younger guys, Black would pair nicely with Harden in the backcourt and a front court of Carter and Collins would atleast be quicker and more agile. Howard offers a nice young shooter and you still would have dependable vets like CP3 DJJ Batum and BLopez.
2. Zubac and Bogandovic for Kuminga, Heild and TJD
Warriors add their much needed centre that provides an interior presence, help them get more rebounds and give them another chance at a title run. Clippers get Kuminga who they can try develop as their focal point of the rebuild for now. TJD is a skilled young big and Heild provides a nice role player you can probably still get good value from.
3. Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn/Brook Lopez for Ja Morant, GG Jackson and Brandon Clarke
This one is full rebuild and you’re starting off with a young star in Ja, and also hoping to develop GG. For Memphis they’d have to really be over Ja but in terms of returns this would be right up there. They have point guards to cover Ja leaving Dunn, Vinny Williams, Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. Kawhi JJJ Dunn KCP Edey Coward Wells etc they’d be very very good defensively. The depth would also be really strong and honestly would surprise a bunch of people how good they are but of-course availability and injuries would be their major weakness.
Say Kawhi went back to god mode and won with this team he’d honestly have a case for top 10 lowkey
Brook Lopez >>>>> to Warriors
Buddy Hield >>>>>> to Clippers
Then you move Kuminga for playmakers, vall handlers.