Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who signed a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the club in September to end a prolonged contract dispute, is eligible to be traded starting Jan. 15.
Mavericks Interested In Jonathan Kuminga
Any deal to acquire Kuminga will potentially involve Dallas Mavericks star center Anthony Davis.
A league source informed The Athletic’s Sam Amick on Wednesday that Dallas has interest in acquiring Kuminga from the Warriors, but an unlikely scenario would have to take place.
Golden State must first match Davis’ 2025-26 salary.
“[Kuminga’s] salary ($22.5 million) comes well short of Davis’ ($54.1 million),” Amick wrote. “It would thus require the inclusion of another big contract — i.e., [Draymond] Green ($25.8 million). Yet as Warriors coach Steve Kerr said publicly last week, and team sources confirmed, a move like that is not in their plans.”
Green, 35, has spent his entire 14-year NBA career with the Warriors.
“My No. 1 goal, honestly, is for (Green) to finish his career as a Warrior with us fighting, metaphorically, not literally fighting and competing together until we’re both gone,” Kerr said after his bench argument with Green in a Dec. 22 game against the Orlando Magic.
Warriors Not Actively Pursuing Anthony Davis
Amick also noted that Golden State could trade Jimmy Butler for Davis.
However, the Warriors have “shown no interest” in moving the six-time All-Star after acquiring him from the Miami Heat at last season’s deadline and signing him to a two-year, $110.96 million max contract extension.
This means Davis will not be going to the Bay Area.
What’s more, NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported Sunday that Golden State is not “actively” engaging in trade talks with the Mavs for Davis.
“The Warriors have held a longstanding fondness for Davis and I’m told that they have indeed had some internal discussions about pursuing him, but they do not appear to be actively doing so six-ish weeks out from the deadline,” Stein wrote.
“I’m likewise told that Davis’ contract — with potentially two years still left on it if the 32-year-old exercises his $62.7 million player option in 2027-28 — and the injury woes he has endured since becoming a Maverick have thrust a measure of pause into Golden State’s deliberations.”
Davis, Kuminga Need New Teams
Through 17 appearances (all starts) this season, Davis is averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 30.4 minutes per outing while shooting 51.8% from the field and 31.3% from deep.
Since arriving in Dallas in February as the centerpiece of the Luka Doncic trade, Davis has dealt with several muscle strains that have limited him to a total of just 26 regular-season games.
Davis, who was recovering from an abdominal strain at the time of the trade, suffered a related adductor strain in his Mavs debut. That injury sidelined him for 18 games.
He also missed 14 games earlier this campaign due to a left calf strain.
Kuminga, meanwhile, has had problems of his own.
After starting the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga was demoted to a bench role because of missed shots and turnovers. The 6-foot-7 wing was then sidelined for seven games due to bilateral knee tendonitis.
Following a return to action in late November, Kuminga appeared in four games in a row, making another start on Dec. 6 in Cleveland, but he has been listed as “Did Not Play” (DNP) in seven of Golden State’s past nine games.
He hasn’t played since Dec. 18 at Philadelphia.
Through 18 appearances (13 starts) this season, Kuminga is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, a career-high 2.4 turnovers, and 24.8 minutes per outing while shooting a career-low 43.1% from the field.
