Reports: Jonathan Kuminga Targeted By Sacramento Kings For Sign-And-Trade

After reports of dissatisfaction during his 4 years with the Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga could be on his way out.

Reports: Jonathan Kuminga Targeted By Sacramento Kings For Sign-And-Trade

Jonathan Kuminga (Image via Instagram)

One of the most baffling decisions that the Warriors took between 2019 and 2021 was the two-timeline approach. Owner Joe Lacob wanted the team to be able to groom young talent while also contending for titles. As a result, the Warriors tried fruitlessly to integrate James Wiseman on a team that would go on to win the 2021-22 NBA title. They also drafted Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga while in this mode.

But this experiment was discarded after the team started falling off in 2022-23. Moses Moody signed a team-friendly extension and has been slotted into the roster as a role player. However, Jonathan Kuminga wanted a bigger role and more money based on his play from the first two seasons of his career. This led to Kuminga being shunted in and out of the rotations by head coach Steve Kerr over the past two years.

Kuminga was also reduced to a bit-part player during the Warriors’ first round of the playoffs this year. The 23-year-old was, however, called into action after Steph Curry went down with an injury against the Wolves. He responded fairly well to the challenge, tallying 18, 30, 23 and 26 points in the final four games. Even though the Dubs lost those games, he’s built a good image for himself on the free agent market.

People expect Jonathan Kuminga to ask for a sign-and-trade away from the Bay Area this summer. His salary demands will be in the neighborhood of $30 million according to sources and previous reports. The Athletic’s NBA insider Sam Amick reported that the Sacramento Kings could be one of the teams interested in landing Kuminga, although not much is known about whether he wants to end up there:

League sources say the Kings are among the teams that have interest in Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga and will be monitoring his market when his restricted free agency begins. And while it appears unlikely that Kuminga will ultimately come their way, it speaks to the vision, and the range of possibilities here, that they’re even focusing on players of that ilk.

Jonathan Kuminga is also being pursued by the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are a team that has been rumored to be on the hunt for their next superstar. They have Andrew Wiggins, who will be a Warriors fan favorite for the rest of his life after his amazing 2022 NBA playoff run. Perhaps a sign-and-trade sending Jonathan Kuminga the other way could be worked out. Kuminga has stated his lofty ambitions of becoming an All-Star, All-NBA player in past interviews.

Steve Kerr has no better opportunity than to unleash Jonathan Kuminga
Steve Kerr, Jonathan Kuminga (Image via 95.7 The Game/X)

Speaking to The Athletic’s Warriors reporter Anthony Slater, Kuminga once laid out clearly that he would pursue these dreams whether or not he can do it while on the team that drafted him:

I feel like I’m at the point where that has to be my priority, to just be one of the guys a team relies on. Aiming to be an All-Star. Multiple times. Aiming to be great… Wherever I’m going to be at, it doesn’t matter if it’s with the Warriors or anywhere else, it’s something I want. I want to see what I could do. I know I got it. So I want to really see. I’ve never got that chance.

Pat Riley is the NBA’s longest-tenured front office head and has overseen many players’ rise from role player to star. If anyone can help Kuminga unlock his potential and reach the next level, it’s him and coach Erik Spoelstra.

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