Jonathan Kuminga, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.
Before the Golden State Warriors’ full-scale pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo took over the trade deadline landscape, the front office quietly explored alternative pathways built around Jonathan Kuminga, according to NBA insiders.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported in The Stein Line that Golden State evaluated potential “smaller deals” involving Kuminga — including exploratory discussions centered on De’Andre Hunter — before Milwaukee’s openness to Antetokounmpo talks reshaped the market.
“Word is that Golden State also looked into Hunter to some degree as it explored its options in smaller deals built around Kuminga’s contract — raising the prospect of Kuminga reuniting with former Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson in Cleveland — but all that was before the Warriors’ Giannis chase became their overwhelming focus at this deadline,” Stein and Fischer wrote.
Kuminga’s Name Surfaced Before Warriors Went All-In
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GettyThe Golden State Warriors explored a Jonathan Kuminga trade for De’Andre Hunter.
Kuminga’s role has fluctuated throughout the season, and he’s long viewed as the Warriors’ most significant movable young asset since his tension-filled contract extension talks last offseason.
Those dynamics briefly aligned with Cleveland’s situation, where Hunter — the No. 4 pick in 2019 — has seen his standing shift amid the emergence of Jaylon Tyson. While Hunter remains a plus defender, his offensive efficiency has dipped noticeably.
Hunter, 28, is shooting just 30.9% from three-point range this season, a sharp decline from the 40.5% mark he posted last year while splitting time between Atlanta and Cleveland. He is averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while carrying a $24.9 million salary for next season.
Fit Made Sense — Until Giannis Changed Everything
From Golden State’s perspective, Hunter fit a familiar archetype. Since losing Andrew Wiggins in last season’s Jimmy Butler trade, the Warriors have searched for a big wing capable of defending multiple positions and functioning without the ball. Despite his shooting regression, Hunter’s defensive versatility has remained intact, making him a logical theoretical target.
That line of thinking, however, was overtaken once Antetokounmpo became available.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors contacted Milwaukee even before reports surfaced that the Bucks had begun listening to offers for their franchise cornerstone.
“League sources told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks in the past week and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table regardless of his calf strain and undetermined return timetable,” Slater reported Thursday.
From that point forward, Golden State’s focus shifted decisively.
Kuminga Injury Adds Another Variable
Kuminga’s short-term availability has also complicated matters. He is currently sidelined after hyperextending his ankle against Dallas last week. An MRI revealed a bone bruise — not considered serious, but one that can be unpredictable in recovery timelines.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr described the injury as day-to-day and said Kuminga returned early from a road trip to focus on rehab.
“He left the trip early, came home a couple of days ago to really focus on rehab,” Kerr said. “We’re hoping that he’s not out for too long and that he’ll be able to play. But it literally is one of those things where it’s just day-to-day.”
Kuminga’s Trade Status Has Not Changed
Despite the injury, Kuminga’s standing in trade conversations has not cooled. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Kuminga’s camp has not altered their trade demands, even after he briefly returned to the rotation before getting hurt.
With Antetokounmpo now at the center of Golden State’s ambitions, Kuminga has become even more pivotal. Multiple reports indicate that the Warriors have made everyone available in trade discussions except Stephen Curry.
Milwaukee’s asking price remains steep.
“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday. “However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the offseason if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met.”
Warriors Balancing Present and Future
Kerr acknowledged that he and Kuminga have spoken often about his role and future, even if trade-deadline specifics have not dominated recent conversations.
“He and I have had many conversations about his future, about his current status on the team,” Kerr recently said. “We talk frequently. We have not spoken about this trade deadline for the last week or two, but we talk all the time.”
Whether Golden State ultimately pivots back to smaller moves or pushes its chips fully into the center for Antetokounmpo, one thing is clear: Kuminga’s name — once explored in secondary scenarios — now sits squarely at the heart of the Warriors’ most ambitious pursuit.