There was a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade scenario that would have been acceptable to the Golden State Warriors.
But that ship has already sailed.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, a Kuminga-Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls would have interested the Warriors.
“I do know that Kuminga’s representation was trying to figure out some sign and trade scenario that would have gotten both Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga paid in Chicago,” Fischer said on his “Insider Notebook” livestreamed on Bleacher Report on July 17. “And I think that was something that would have been more likely if the Bulls waited and had Lonzo Ball to send back to Golden State instead of the deal that they already made with Cleveland.
Instead, the Bulls shipped Ball to the Cavaliers in exchange for defensive-minded wing Isaac Okoro.
“I think that [Ball] would have been something that Golden State would have liked,” Fischer added.
Ball would have been the perfect backcourt partner for Stephen Curry. The former No. 2 overall pick has the combination of size, shooting, playmaking and more importantly, defense that complements Curry.
Warriors No Longer Interested in Nikola Vucevic
Getty Nikola Vucevic was on the Golden State Warriors’ radar at the trade deadline.
Now, the Bulls are left with the expiring contract of Nikola Vucevic as trade bait. The Warriors had interest in Vucevic at the last trade deadline in February. But not at the expense of giving up Kuminga, according to Fischer.
“There’s the thought that Nikola Vucevic would be a potential outgoing piece in a sign and trade that the Warriors have had some interest there,” Fischer continued. “I don’t think the Warriors have much interest in Nikola Vucevic. I really don’t.
“So, I’m not so bullish that there will be a sign and trade between Kuminga and Chicago that includes Nikola Vucevic. I think there’d have to be some other pieces involved. I don’t know exactly what that could entail, would entail, but I am pretty confident that the Warriors would not be super excited about losing Kuminga for an expiring contract like Nikola Vucevic.”
With Al Horford expected to sign with the Warriors, per multiple reports, Vucevic will certainly not make sense.
Jonathan Kuminga Wants $25 Million Annual Salary
In a separate report for “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter, Fischer explained how far apart Kuminga and the Warriors are in their contract negotiations.
“His agent Aaron Turner has held numerous discussions with Warriors officials in Las Vegas, league sources tell The Stein Line, with the hope of securing a contract — even a short-term contract — that pays at least $25 million in average annual salary … whether that’s to stay with the Warriors or switch teams via sign-and-trade,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter on July 17.
The Warriors “have expressed reluctance to go that high in price over a long-term agreement,” Fischer added, citing league sources.
The final figure in a new contract for Kuminga will also matter to the team that will trade for him because of a quirk in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Only 50% of his outgoing salary counts for matching purposes. But his full salary counts as the incoming salary for whichever team acquires him.
Because if Kuminga signs for $25 million annual average salary, the Warriors can only trade him for a player or players worth just $12.5 million. Their trade partner, on the other hand, will absorb the full $25 million in their books.
A compromise of a short-term deal between Kuminga and the Warriors, with the expectation that he will be traded as early as the next trade deadline, could be the most likely outcome.
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