The Golden State Warriors are coming off a season in which they felt like they could've made a bigger mark on the NBA Playoffs. Even reaching the playoffs was a challenge, as the Warriors needed a 23-7 run after acquiring Jimmy Butler via trade to qualify for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Once in the play-in, they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies to earn the No. 7 seed and a matchup with the Houston Rockets. They went on to win the series in seven games, but had a quick turnaround to the next round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That proved detrimental, as Stephen Curry left Game 1 of that series with a hamstring injury and didn't return for the rest of the series.
Jonathan Kuminga
Jan 12, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) dribbles during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Desperate East team emerges as favorite to land Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga
If there was any silver lining to Curry's injury, it was the fact that Jonathan Kuminga got a chance to prove himself after Steve Kerr benched him down the stretch of the regular season. In the final three games of the series, Kuminga averaged 26.3 points per game and displayed the ability to get to the basket at will.
According to odds on Bovada Sportsbook, the Miami Heat are the betting favorites at +200 to land Kuminga if he does not return to the Warriors. That implies a probability of 33.33%.
Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent, which means the Warriors will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet he receives. If Kerr remains firm on his belief that Kuminga and Butler's skill sets make them unplayable together, the Warriors could be looking at a sign-and-trade with Kuminga.
The Heat are desperate to put a team around Tyler Herro, in hopes that he won't soon ask to be traded. They snuck into the NBA Play-In Tournament, where they won two games to make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
It remains to be seen what the Warriors would ask for in return, but the two general managers have worked together before. The Warriors' general manager and the Miami Heat's general manager collaborated as part of a five-team trade that resulted in Butler joining the Warriors and Andrew Wiggins joining the Heat.