Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly drawing significant interest from the Sacramento Kings. Kuminga is an unrestricted free agent this summer and has yet to reach an agreement with the Golden State Warriors over a new contract. Sacramento has reportedly engaged the Warriors front office over a potential sign-and-trade.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who was speaking on a recent episode of 95.7 The Game, the Warriors are holding out for an unprotected first-round pick in any potential deal. Amick noted that if Sacramento was to put an unprotected first-round pick into a trade package for Kuminga, the Warriors would likely accept the proposal.
“So, it feels like that the focus for the Warriors, I mean, for one, I was actually told that that Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis have not even been discussed for what it’s worth,” Amick said. “And then on top of that, if the Warriors focus seems to be on the pick and if the Kings went the Warriors request is then go completely unprotected on the 2030 first rounder. And I think if the Kings obliged, then it feels like that deal would get done. And so it feels like the focus is more on the pick than it is them trying to get any other young prospects from the Kings.”
Kuminga is a former lottery pick. He also has genuine upside as a potential All-Star of the future. It makes sense that Golden State would want a future draft pick as part of any deal, likely due to the value that would have on the trade market in the coming years. However, draft picks are at a premium since the new Collective Barganing Agreement, so the Kings may be reluctant to part with such a valuable asset, especially without any restrictions placed on it.
Sooner or later, the Kuminga situation must come to a resolution. Whether that’s via an agreement with the Kings, or another roster, or with Kuminga signing his qualifying offer with the Warriors. Right now, however, the only thing that looks set in stone is that the explosive forward’s tenure in the Bay Area is coming to a close.
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