The Sacramento Kings remain the most interested trade suitor for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who has not played over the last nine games, including seven DNP-CDs during that stretch.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Talks Stalled
Before the season, Kuminga finally agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors to end a prolonged contract stalemate. As part of the deal, he waived his inherent no-trade clause.
The club option in the second year is designed for either Golden State or another team if and when Kuminga is traded before the Feb. 5 deadline this season.
Although the Kings are pursuing the 6-foot-7 wing, the Warriors “have not made substantial movement toward getting a Kuminga trade in place,” according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“Team sources have said in recent days that they’d be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing enough materializes.”
Warriors’ Asking Price Has Come Down
During a Dec. 30 appearance on Sactown Sports 1140, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that the Kings “do still have interest” in acquiring Kuminga, but the return package is unclear.
“For one, the Kings and everyone else, the price has gone down, it just has,” Amick said. “So what does that look like in a possible Kings deal, because the Warriors are known to not have interest in Malik Monk, and he was front and center in those discussions in the offseason.
“So is it a [DeMar DeRozan] thing potentially? Who knows? I don’t probably see that happening.”
NBA insider Chris Haynes added last month that Kuminga has had “numerous meetings” with head coach Steve Kerr amid on-court struggles and uncertain role with team.
Kuminga Hasn’t Played Since December
After starting the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga was demoted to a bench role due to missed shots and turnovers. He was then sidelined for seven games because of 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 DNP in 10 of Golden State’s past 13 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.
