The Phoenix Suns have pushed their chips to the middle of the table for Golden State Warriors‘ restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. But their bet isn’t enough to even get past the flop.
With the Suns still looking to improve a roster depleted by Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, oddsmakers are bullish about their chances to land a former NBA All-Star.
Offshore sportsbook Bovada has installed the Suns as the odds-on favorites to land Khris Middleton at +300. Trailing them at distant second are the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers at +600, followed by the Miami Heat (+800) and Denver Nuggets (+900).
Considered long shots are Middleton’s former team, the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, tied at +1400 and the San Antonio Spurs (+1600).
Middleton has a $33.3 million expiring salary entering next season. After Marcus Smart reached a buyout with the Washington Wizards to join the Lakers, Middleton is a candidate to follow the same path to get out of the rebuilding Wizards.
Ankle injuries have slowed Middleton down. The three-time All-Star managed to play only a combined 37 games last season while averaging just 11.9 points, his lowest scoring average since his rookie year.
Middleton landed in the nation’s capital in a four-team trade that brought Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee.
Getty Khris Middleton formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Five of the NBA Finals in 2021.
It has been four years since Middleton was the second option next to Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks’ title run, interestingly, at the expense of the Suns.
Now, 33, Middleton is looking for redemption on a contract year. Will he find that in the desert?
Suns Have Clogged Wings Rotation
However, it’s hard to envision Middleton going to Phoenix with the Suns having a glut of wings: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks.
But for the veteran minimum, if he’s bought out, it’s a low-risk, high-reward proposition.
The Suns have shopped O’Neale and Allen, but they have not gained any traction in any deal.
Most recently, they have dangled O’Neale in their bid to land Kuminga, but their lack of first-round pick capital is holding them back despite their aggressive push.
According to Andscape’s senior NBA writer Marc J. Spears, the Warriors balked at the Suns’ trade package.
“And then the Suns, I heard, they’re like, offering Royce and four seconds and Nick Richards,” Spears said on “NBA Today” on July 30. “That’s just not pretty enough.”
Spears may have misspoke as the Suns only have three second-round picks available to trade, while they do not have control of their first-round picks until 2031.
Warriors’ High Asking Price
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors are looking for an unprotected first-round pick, a rotation player and a young player.
O’Neale can be considered a quality rotation player, but he has three guaranteed years left on his four-year, $42 million contract, which makes it undesirable. Richards is a serviceable backup center on an expiring salary.
Unless the Suns can rope in a third team that will furnish a first-round pick to the Warriors, they do not stand a chance despite their lucrative offer to Kuminga.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, the Suns pushed all their chips to the table to lure Kuminga.
“The most significant negotiations have been with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, getting proposals up to four years approaching $90 million total, including a player option for the final season, sources said. Phoenix has made the most lucrative push via sign-and-trade,” Charania and Slater reported.
The Suns’ proposal was nearly $70 million more guaranteed than the Warriors’ offer, Charania and Slater added.
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