Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Getty
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
The NBA trade deadline is inching closer by the day. As such, the Golden State Warriors are on the clock in regards to Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the franchise. The explosive forward signed a two-year contract with the Warriors ahead of the new season. However, he has once again fallen out of Steve Kerr’s rotation.
Kuminga has struggled to earn a legitimate role under Kerr. He’s the first name to be dropped from the rotation when changes are deemed necessary.
A recent three-team trade proposal from ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan aims to solve Kuminga’s situation with the Warriors. The deal would also send another elite scorer to the Bay Area, giving Kerr’s team the boost it needs.
Pagaduan’s proposed deal looks like this:
Warriors Get: Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets Get: Zach LaVine, Devin Carter, Buddy Hield, a 2026 and 2028 first-round draft pick, and a 2026 and 2027 second-round pick.
Sacramento Kings Get: Jonathan Kuminga, Terance Mann and Moses Moody
“Porter is such a perfect fit on the Warriors’ offensive ecosystem that it might be worth forking over two first-round picks to bring him in,” Pagaduan reasoned. “He has had some defensive issues in the past, but at 6’10”, he can make up for that simply by being big. And his experience on the Denver Nuggets‘ Nikola Jokic-led, motion-based offensive system should allow him to thrive under head coach Steve Kerr’s watch.”
Porter Jr. has been solid during he opening months of his tenure with the Nets. He’s averaging 25.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, shooting 49% from the field and 39.7% from deep.
Porter Is “A Lock” To Be Traded, Says Analyst
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, Porter Jr. will be traded ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“With one trusted league source telling me that Michael Porter Jr. is a lock to move by the deadline so the Nets can sell high on his career year, it makes sense for the Nets to figure out who will be the centerpiece of their franchise a year from now,” Hollinger reported on Saturday. “Remember, Brooklyn owes a pick swap to Houston in 2027 and thus has no incentive to tank next season. They need some players.”
While Pagaduan’s trade idea is based on opinion, the sort of framework he’s suggesting could help Golden State. Adding Porter Jr. means absorbing a sizeable contract. He’s in the fourth year of a five-year $179 million deal. Moving on from multiple players would help create the cap flexibility needed to get the deal over the line.
Kerr Explained Why Kuminga’s Out Of Rotation
During a recent news conference, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr explained why Kuminga has fallen out of Golden State’s rotation.
“I’m disappointed for him that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks,” Kerr said. “At the same time, it was going to be tricky to start JK, Jimmy and Draymond at the two, three and four. I think anybody can see that’s a tough combination, just based on shooting.”
Kerr continued.
“Sometimes Steph can offset every spacing obstacle in your way — he’s that good — but in the modern NBA, I think it’s tough to do that. And I think we recognize that. We gave that lineup several weeks, and eventually the weaknesses of the lineup were exposed, and that’s why we went in a different direction.”
Kuminga’s tenure in the Bay Area has appeared to be over for a while now. It’s only a matter of time until the Warriors find a deal they’d be willing to live with. Maybe a move for Porter Jr. could be what finally resolves Kuminga’s current situation. That is assuming a deal can be made the suits all parties involved.