Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
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Jonathan Kuminga maintains focus amid uncertain future with Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga remain at an impasse over contract negotiations, meaning the Congolese forward may be forced to accept his qualifying offer and play out the 2025-26 season in the Bay Area.
In such a scenario, Golden State will need to find an athletic wing to replace Kuminga starting with the 2026-27 season. Blue Man Hoop’s G.C. Bellchamber believes Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington — an unrestricted free agent in 2026 — would be a seamless fit in Steve Kerr’s system and the ideal player to replace Kuminga.
Bellchamber argues that since the Mavericks already have an abundance of wings and forwards on the roster, including Max Christie, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis, Washington could be on the trading block eventually.
“While he was a vital part of the team’s run to the NBA Finals in 2024, changing circumstances in the organization, including their acquisition of Anthony Davis and their surprising opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg, means that their line-up is now stacked with pieces who can play the four,” he wrote.
Mavs Keen to Retain Washington
“Therefore, it is quite possible that Washington, under normal circumstances, could be on the trade block sooner rather than later.”
Further to the writer’s point, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Mavericks are keen to extend Washington, ensuring he doesn’t become a free agent in 2026.
According to Stein, the Mavericks are ‘likely’ to lock up Washington to a four-year, $90 million extension when he becomes eligible to sign a new deal on Friday, Aug. 29. If Washington inks the extension, he won’t be eligible to be traded for at least six months.
Once the 2026 offseason rolls around, the Mavericks may move Washington, believes Bellchamber, giving the Warriors the perfect opportunity to trade for him.
Washington, a Plug-and-Play Piece
“While it is highly unlikely that the Mavericks would have any interest in Kuminga, given their aforementioned logjam in the frontcourt, the Warriors are also almost certainly planning on moving on from Kuminga sometime within the next year.”
“Therefore, if they are eventually able to offload Kuminga’s salary to an interested team, they could then set their sights on Washington as the ideal addition in their frontcourt. Although the fit with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green would be complicated, Washington has shown a willingness to fit his game to whatever role is needed for a contending team, and bringing his dynamic skill-set into Golden State could propel them towards immediate title contention.”
Unlike Kuminga — who thrives with the ball in his hand — Washington is adept at playing off the ball as both a cutter and catch-and-shoot threat. In one-and-a-half seasons in Dallas, he has averaged 13.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks while making an impressive 1.7 threes per game.
Washington played a critical role in helping the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals, as he made 2.1 threes per game while guarding the opponent’s best wing player. He put up a stellar performance in the 2024 Western Conference semifinals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when he finished as Dallas’ second-leading scorer.