We're entering the Silly Season of the NBA calendar, with teams looking to shake up their rosters with trades or buyouts ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
The Atlanta Hawks kicked off the frenzy when they sent superstar point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster deal. Another star guard, the Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant, is also expected to be dealt very shortly.
On Thursday, another big name slotted itself at the top of the league's trading block, as Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga reportedly requested a trade.
Kuminga became trade-eligible on Thursday because he signed an extension in the offseason as a Bird Rights free agent who got a raise greater than 20 percent. The 23-year-old inked a two-year, $46.8 million extension in late September after coming off his four-year rookie deal.
The 2021 seventh-overall pick never quite found a fit in five seasons in Golden State, and is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
Jonathan Kuminga 2025-26 NBA Stats
Games Played
Minutes per Game
Points per Game (PPG)
Rebounds per Game (RPG)
Assists per Game (APG)
Field Goal % (FG%)
3-Point % (3P%)
Free Throw % (FT%)
Steals per Game
Blocks per Game
Turnovers per Game
Personal Fouls per Game
The Democratic Republic of Congo native is an elite athlete, but has struggled to adapt to Steve Kerr's pass-and-move offense. His three-point shooting has also been an issue, making him an awkward fit in a lineup with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
A trade feels inevitable, but which team could get the best out of the 6-foot-7 forward? Here are three destinations that would be ideal for Jonathan Kuminga.
1 Sacramento Kings
Domantas Sabonis
The Sacramento Kings, along with the Phoenix Suns, were the team most interested in acquiring Kuminga last offseason.
The Kings are having another season to forget, sitting 14th in the Western Conference with an 11-30 record. They're bad on both ends of the floor, and desperately need some new blood.
Keegan Murray is the only player on Sacramento's roster worth retaining, but the likes of Keon Ellis and Malik Monk could be attractive pieces for a Warriors team that is looking for any help outside the point guard position.
Monk, specifically, could be a smart addition for his shooting and playmaking ability, notably as the first guy off the bench when Stephen Curry needs a rest.
The two sides could also consider a much bigger deal involving Damontis Sabonis, which would require as many as seven players and a slew of draft picks being exchanged.
Kuminga may be able to spread his wings in a Kings team that needs a new direction.
2 Dallas Mavericks
Flagg
The Dallas Mavericks are on the lookout for high-upside players they can pair with Cooper Flagg as they look to move on from the Nico Harrison era.
A trade involving Anthony Davis is probably off the table after the star big man suffered a hand injury, but if the Warriors are serious about adding a paint presence, Daniel Gafford is a perfect candidate.
The Dubs could package Kuminga and Buddy Hield to bring in Gafford and Klay Thompson, who would likely welcome a return to the Bay Area. Dallas would be eager to get off of Thompson's $17 million salary, replacing him with a younger, cheaper option in Hield.
Thompson wouldn't improve the Warriors the way Gafford would, but reuniting the Splash Brothers might make Golden State entertaining enough to see off Curry's twilight years in a positive light.
3 Brooklyn Nets
Porter Jr Nets
The Brooklyn Nets feel like the best-case outcome for Kuminga; a rebuilding team that needs a young star to build around. Or Kuminga could use the Nets as a stepping stone, padding his stats and inflating his value to eventually sign with or get traded to a different team, just like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson once did.
The Warriors would want Michael Porter Jr. in return, the type of player that feels almost perfect for their offensive style. His $38 million salary is easier to swallow than other stars who are on max contracts, making it easier to match salaries in a possible trade.
Golden State would have to sweeten the deal if they want to pry Porter Jr away from Brooklyn, but the trade could pay big dividends for both Kuminga and Porter.
Brooklyn could be a great spot for Kuminga to prove that he's a go-to scorer in the NBA, with no other high-usage players in his way to stunt his development.
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