Jonathan Kuminga‘s long-term future with the Golden State Warriors continues to be a topic of conversation. The explosive forward spent all summer locked in negotiations with the franchise, and has recently fallen out of Steve Kerr’s rotation.
The consensus is that Kuminga will eventually be traded by Golden State. In a recent article from ClutchPoints, Bailey Bassett proposed a deal that would land Kuminga with the Phoenix Suns. The trade idea looks like this:
Warriors Get: Jordan Goodwin, Royce O’Neal, Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick
Suns Get: Jonathan Kuminga
“Nick Richards is expendable,” Bassett wrote. “The Warriors just so happen to desperately need center help. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post are both playing fewer than 20 minutes per game, and neither of them offers enough interior defensive help. Al Horford is finally back from a battle with sciatica, but at 39 years old, he clearly isn’t the player he once was. They have an overall need for depth that would be improved with this trade, too.”
Adding Richards would undoubtedly solve an area of need for Golden State. Furthermore, the addition of O’Neal would give Kerr some additional wing defense off the bench, along with some catch-and-shoot floor spacing from deep.
Warriors’ Would Need To Create Roster Space
One area where this proposed trade falls short is that in order for the deal to make sense, the Warriors would need to open two roster spots. Kerr’s team is currently at capacity, with 15 players under full-time contracts and four guys on two-way deals.
Furthermore, even the end-of-bench talent has been impressive for the Warriors this season. Pat Spencer and Will Richard have both had their moments with the second unit.
Therefore, it’s hard to envision Golden State cutting players loose when they’ve proven themselves viable in limited minutes. It’s also important to note that the deal skews toward favoring the Suns. The Western Conference franchise was among the teams with reported interest during the summer.
Warriors Will Seek Best Value In Kuminga Trade
While the proposed trade undoubtedly addresses a need for the Warriors, it’s fair to wonder whether better deals will be available. After all, Richards is a solid big man. Still, he’s not the sort of talent who will swing a championship push.
According to a Dec. 29 report by Marc Stein, Golden State will seek to maximize its return on Kuminga, should it seek a trade.
“The Warriors are known to be determined to find the best possible trade headlined by Jonathan Kuminga and his $22.5 million salary (with a $24.3 million team option next season) once the out-of-favor swingman becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15,” Stein reported.
Right now, it’s hard to gauge what the Warriors would consider as an ideal trade for Kuminga. However, it’s likely a move that would improve the team’s chances of contending both now and in the immediate future. The current roster is built toward immediate success.
For that reason, a package centered around Richards and O’Neal is unlikely to move the needle for Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
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