The Phoenix Suns have emerged as the latest suitor for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, a restricted free agent entering the 2025-26 season.
In light of the reports, Fadeaway World proposed a sign-and-trade scenario that would see the Congolese forward land in Phoenix in exchange for a haul of players.
Suns would receive: Kuminga (sign-and-trade for $32 million per year)
Warriors would receive: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal, Nick Richards, 2029 second-round pick
The trade isn’t exactly a home run for the Warriors, given that Allen, O’Neal, and Richards are all role players. However, the transaction would help the Warriors shore up their outside shooting and perimeter defense, in addition to landing a new center. Richards, an underrated rim protector, averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in just 22.7 minutes per game for the Suns last season, and could fit nicely on the Warriors.
Warriors Could Use Roster Depth
As of July 17, the Warriors had only nine players under contract. The team is evidently top-heavy with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green consuming a chunk of their salaries, leaving minimal opportunity to add around them. This hypothetical sign-and-trade would allow them to add some valuable pieces.
“Kuminga’s fluctuating trade value could limit Golden State’s leverage in negotiations,” read the article. “Still, the Warriors could acquire useful contributors and veteran depth in return from Phoenix. Since they are giving away the best player in this deal, the Warriors would also get back a future second-round draft pick to help set them up after Stephen Curry’s retirement.”
After trading Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal, the Suns seem intent on rebuilding the roster around veteran guard Devin Booker.
Suns Eyeing Jonathan Kuminga
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Suns are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities to acquire Kuminga, a player who hasn’t received any offer sheets from interested suitors due to a lack of salary cap space. The easiest pathway for the Warriors to find Kuminga a new home would be through a sign-and-trade scenario, as such a move would also help them acquire pieces to build a contender.
“Sources say Phoenix, meanwhile, is the latest team to express exploratory interest in a Kuminga sign-and-trade, challenging as it would be for the Suns to make such a deal happen,” Fischer wrote in his substack on July 17.
“Fresh off completing a buyout of Bradley Beal this week, enabling the Suns to waive-and-stretch the hefty contract possessed by the three-time NBA All-Star guard, they have contacted both Kuminga’s representation and the Warriors to make their fondness for the bouncy swingman known.”
Kuminga would give Suns a foundational building block to build around Booker, Jalen Green and Khaman Maluach, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“Kuminga, 22, gets the chance for a fresh start in brand new territory, and his energetic presence could thrive in a larger role on a team with much less pressure to compete,” wrote Fadeaway World’s Nico Martinez. “While his game is still raw, he has the potential to be a high-impact player in Phoenix, especially on defense, where they need him the most.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Sign-And-Trade Pitch Sends Jonathan Kuminga to Rival appeared first on Heavy Sports.