After finally coming to terms on a contract extension with Jonathan Kuminga, the Golden State Warriors have sorted out what was the team’s biggest issue of the summer, sort of.
While Kuminga returns to the Warriors on a two-year, $48.5 million deal, the language of both the contract and its announcement by Shams Charania leaves the door open for the 23-year-old forward to be traded in the relatively near future.
After the months of negotiating, Kuminga’s relationship with the team has soured, and though he said his focus is on this team and the season, Golden State could deal the forward elsewhere if it means they will have a better shot at the title. While many mock trades have hinted at the Bay Area team targeting another big-name player, there’s one who fell through the cracks.
Writing for BlueManHoop.com, Peter O’Keefe recently urged the Warriors to pursue Deni Avdija from the Portland Trail Blazers.
“The 6’9” forward is exactly the type of player Golden State should be targeting to complement the veteran quartet of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford,” he wrote.
Avdija, about to enter his sixth season in the NBA, spent his first four years with the Washington Wizards before playing last year in Portland. He averaged a career-high 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists as a consistent starter for the Trail Blazers last season.
Potential Deni Avdija Addition For Jonathan Kuminga
The specific number Kuminga would sign for was a massive storyline for Golden State over the summer. Now, his roughly $24 million average annual value contract is both a positive and a negative for the team.
However, in terms of a potential trade for Avdija, the money Kuminga is set to make is a great number. The Portland forward is currently in the second year of a four-year, $55 million extension he signed in 2023. His nearly $13 million annual salary is nothing to scoff at, but in NBA terms, and compared to Kuminga’s contract, Avdija is on an extremely team-friendly deal.
That was proven especially true near the end of last season, as though Portland was out of the playoff picture, they had a strong run to close out the year. During Avdija’s final 30 games of the season, he averaged 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 49.1% from the floor and 39.4% from deep.
“The 24-year-old represents a lot of what works in the Golden State system — good size and a high IQ with the ability to be a multi-faceted ball-handler and playmaker,” O’Keefe added. “His 3-point shooting has also been much improved over the past two seasons to the point where while not an absolute sharpshooter, he does need to be respected from beyond the arc.”
The fit in Golden State would be seamless, as though he isn’t a top-tier defender, Avdija brings a mix of characteristics that would benefit all of the team’s top stars. While he’s yet to have the same success as Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets, Advija brings a similar skillset to the table, making less than the mid-level exception until 2028.
Curry, Warriors, New Additions Hold High Hopes For 2025-26
While Kuminga’s deal was the highlight of the summer, Golden State added multiple notable players after they brought back the scoring forward. Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Seth Curry, and Gary Payton all signed with the Warriors for a season in which expectations are high.
Curry and Horford have sent compliments back and forth to each other, while Green and Butler have given praise to the Warriors’ front office for the players they brought in. Though they had a disappointing end to last season, Golden State is hopeful they’ll be better prepared for a fifth title run since 2015, whether Kuminga is involved or not.
Most recently, the Warriors were predicted to finish with about 56 wins, according to Kevin Pelton of ESPN.
“The Warriors might have the single most surprising projection for any team, nearly four wins clear of the non-Oklahoma City field,” he wrote.
They still trail behind the Thunder and Denver Nuggets as top title contenders in the West, but the additions put Golden State in a stronger position than they have been in recent years.
The future of Kuminga is still uncertain and will likely have a larger spotlight if the season doesn’t start as planned. Golden State will have a lot of potential replacement options, and if Portland is struggling as well, Avdija could be on the table.
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