Of the three Kings veteran stars considered in-season trade candidates, DeMar DeRozan looks like the one most likely to be on the move ahead of the February 5 deadline, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
As Siegel explains, DeRozan’s relatively team-friendly contract structure – $24.6MM this season and a $10MM partial guarantee on his $25.7MM salary for 2026/27 – makes him a more manageable investment for most clubs than either Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis. LaVine is earning $47.5MM this season, with a $49MM player option for ’26/27, while Sabonis will be owed $94MM over the next two seasons after making $42.3MM in ’25/26.
The Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies are some of the potential suitors to watch for DeRozan, says Siegel, though he doesn’t explicitly state that all those clubs have shown interest in the veteran forward.
Sabonis, who is currently on the shelf with a meniscus tear, will likely have to show he’s healthy before drawing real interest on the trade market. According to Siegel, the Sacramento big man isn’t expected to begin the return-to-play portion of his recovery process until sometime around Christmas.
Here are a few more rumors from around the NBA, courtesy of Siegel:
- There’s a “growing sense” that the Timberwolves would be willing to sell high on forward Julius Randle in the right deal this season, Siegel writes. Minnesota is known to be on the lookout for a point guard, having checked in on Ja Morant. The team has also inquired about Cavaliers guard Darius Garland for the past year-plus, sources tell Siegel. However, the Wolves’ lack of tradable first-round picks will be complicate their ability to make any major moves.
- Nets center Nic Claxton is considered a trade candidate and has come up in discussions with sources around the NBA as a possible Warriors target, Siegel writes. However, given that the Nets showed no interest in pursuing Jonathan Kuminga using their cap room when he was a restricted free agent over the summer, it doesn’t appear the fifth-year forward would be a target for Brooklyn. Claxton has also been considered a potential Lakers target dating back to last season, Siegel notes.
- The Pacers are among the teams that have been keeping an eye on Kuminga, having “quietly” scouted him since the start of last season, according to Siegel, who wonders if the Warriors would have any interest in a deal involving Bennedict Mathurin. There’s a sense around the league that Indiana might look to move a player like Mathurin, Jarace Walker, or Obi Toppin due in part to the club’s cap situation going forward, Siegel adds.
- The Warriors are known to have interest in forwards Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones and will likely talk to the Pelicans during the season, Siegel writes. It’s unclear if New Orleans would be open to moving either Murphy or Jones, but they represent the sort of “versatile wings” that Golden State will likely be targeting in a Kuminga trade, Siegel explains.
- If the Heat were to trade Andrew Wiggins this season, they’d be seeking a first-round pick, plus a player or two who could step into their rotation and be a positive contributor, per Siegel. The Lakers were linked to Wiggins during the offseason and the Bucks also inquired about him, Siegel reports, but Miami hasn’t had any serious trade talks about the veteran forward as of late.
Don’t think Kuminga has that level of trade value. Teams weren’t trying to acquire him in FA with trades.
Lakers I guess would be trading picks. They don’t have players alone to make a Claxton trade. Wouldn’t Reaves need to be in such a trade? They have no young talent. Ayton and Claxton Wouldn’t be able to play next to each other.
Yeah, unless Ayton gets injured it’s not clear there’s a need for Clax, tho the Lakers would have to go thru some pretty big lineups in the WC so maybe as a 2nd big. I guess Knecht is really the only young asset the Nets could be interested in. I don’t think they have any picks to trade.
And re the Dubs, if the Nets aren’t interested in Kuminga, I don’t see how a deal would come together.
Pistons could look to add length for a playoff run. They would have pieces that could work for the Nets.
Lmao thinking reaves would be in a trade for Claxton shows how delusional you are
LAL has no value in a trade besides him.
Guys like Vanderbilt and Smart are not what rebuilding teams want. Knect is an old rookie contract guy never seen with much upside.
Teams were facing apron restrictions if they were interested in Kuminga with a couple of exceptions. That isn’t really relevant to what his value is. I can’t imagine the Pels thinking he’d be an upgrade to Murphy especially, but Jones might be available.
But if Kuminga can’t get back on the court and play well, no teams will want him.
Kuminga needs to step up in teh next 2 weeks to prove he is worth the amount he seeks. If not his end days with the warriors will be Jan 15th. Those are some good players to trade him for. Even work a 3 way deal with other teams.
Worth the amount he seeks? He just signed a new contract. He first needs to prove he is worth that contract so that he can get the *trade* that he seeks. Nobody is going to want to trade for him if he can’t even play up to the level of his current contract, which will leave the Warriors and Kuminga stuck with each other.
Wait, what? I thought that after those 3 playoff games; every team wanted Kuminga. They would ignore his regular season struggles. Everyone said so. SHOCKING!! LOL.
Kuminga should have signed early. He could have spent the summer working out with Butler and understood why he lost minutes to Jimmy. Now, he has to work to show those skills during the regular season. He has made strides. He just needs to be consistent. There is still time.
Yeah ……. real fans here.
The only thing Kuminga needs to do. Is get healthy. Everything else will take care of itself. I can’t wait till the day he leaves GS. Don’t worry there is value out there for JK.
I like Wiggins to Lakers. Be interesting to see what they give up.
Bucks need anyone. I just don’t see what they can offer. Without depleting their team. Only trade makes sense in Milwaukee is a Giannis trade. ….. just do it.
I guess you can cross Brooklyn off the list…I guess you haven’t noticed how Kuminga is a different player this season.
Looks the same to me. Inconsistent still trying to find his place. Warriors still expecting a savior.
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Brooklyn might not have shown interest at the time but I wonder how interested they’d be now.
Kuminga with his athleticism and finishing, playing as a cutter, lob threat and down hill slasher has appeal. They have MPJ locked in as the other forward who is a great shooter and good rebounder but happy ay either forward spot.
Think they’d be a solid pairing.
Throw in young Egor Demin who is a 6’8 point guard known for his playmaking and passing ability. He’d benefit from having a guy like Kuminga as a threat attacking the basket constantly.
Also throw in the fact they have Sharpe who I personally like and Danny Wolf as back up centre to replace Claxton should he be traded.
Maybe to sweeten the deal for both side you could throw in Highmsith and Heild plus a couple seconds from GSW.
Heild gives Brooklyn another elite shooter to help open the floor for Demin and Kuminga. Cam Thomas could maybe then be a 6th man off the bench who can play as much iso ball as he wants.
GSW then get back Highsmith who can replace Kuminga’s role as a combo forward but either better defence and less offence.
They have lots of SG’s (Podz, Moody, Richard) so Heild wouldn’t be a huge loss.
No one wants lazy Wiggins. He’s a trash can.