Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)
Key Points
Kuminga may be traded after January 15, potentially in a deal for Davis.
Jonathan Kuminga has been a consistent figure in trade rumors involving the Golden State Warriors. The rumblings got even louder after the 6-foot-7 forward fell out of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. Despite being healthy, Kuminga has made just one appearance for Golden State in the last seven games.
Kuminga could turn out to be a key piece for the Warriors as the February trade deadline draws closer. It is unclear if he will be able to find a consistent spot in the rotation again, but it appears that the 23-year-old could be pivotal in Golden State’s reported pursuit of Dallas Mavericks superstar Anthony Davis.
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis
Much like Kuminga, Davis has also seen his name dragged into trade rumors of late. Along with the Atlanta Hawks, the Warriors were named by senior NBA reporter Chris Haynes as a team that is “contemplating making a case to acquire” the NBA champion big man. According to Haynes, Golden State is in the market for a high-impact big man that could potentially help them chase another championship this season.
It was also reported, however, that the Mavs were “not that fascinated with what Golden State has on its books” in terms of a potential blockbuster trade for Davis. Dallas is expected to embrace a full rebuild around rookie sensation Cooper Flagg if they move Davis, and it does not seem like any of the Warriors’ assets have piqued the Mavs’ interest.
Then again, Dallas might just reconsider if Kuminga were on the table. At 23, the former seventh overall pick is still young enough to fall within 19-year-old Flagg’s timeline.
Haynes has indicated that Kuminga’s time with the Warriors could be coming to an end soon, with multiple teams showing interest in the former NBA G League star.
“There are rival teams out there that believe that once January 15th comes, that’s when Jonathan Kuminga can be traded,” Haynes said. “When that comes, they do not expect Jonathan Kaminga to still be a member of the Golden State Warriors past the trade deadline. So he is a name to watch as this time goes on.
“Kuminga has been very frustrated. I was told he’s had numerous meetings with Steve Kerr, and those two just haven’t been on the same page. So at some point after January 15th, rival executives expect Kuminga and the Warriors to part ways via a trade.”
Kuminga signed a two-year contract extension with the Warriors this past summer, which is why he can only be traded after January 15. If Haynes’ report is accurate, then this means that the Mavs could face a big decision in a couple of weeks once Kuminga officially becomes available for a trade. Depending on how much value they see in the Democratic Republic of Congo native, Dallas’ front office could decide to pull the trigger on a Davis blockbuster deal in exchange for Kuminga and a few other assets, potentially from a third team.
The Mavs could prove to be a good landing spot for Kuminga as he looks for a fresh start. Davis, on the other hand, would be a massive acquisition for the Warriors. So long as the 10-time All-Star is healthy, he could change the landscape for Golden State and its championship aspirations.