Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade on Jan. 15, the first day he became eligible to be moved after the contract he signed during the offseason as a restricted free agent.
However, the Warriors might now feel obligated to keep Kuminga for the rest of the season after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee in Monday’s win over the Miami Heat.
Butler sustained the injury at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter. His knee buckled upon landing after catching a pass in the middle of the paint and colliding with Heat guard Davion Mitchell.
Jonathan Kuminga Likely To See Playing Time
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the game that Kuminga “absolutely” could receive playing time with Butler out along with injuries to Draymond Green (right ankle sprain) and Gui Santos (left ankle sprain).
After starting the first 12 games of the season, Kuminga was demoted to a bench role because of underwhelming performances. He 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 DNP in 17 of Golden State’s past 20 games.
The 6-foot-7 wing hasn’t played since Dec. 18 at Phoenix.
Kuminga was scratched ahead of a Jan. 2 home game due to lower back soreness, but “multiple team sources said they suspect Kuminga wasn’t actually hurt,” per The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Nick Friedell.
One anonymous player told The Athletic that he “wouldn’t have played either” because “it’s clear the coach doesn’t believe in him.”
Kings, Warriors Trade Talks Stalled
Although the Lakers, Bulls, and Mavericks have expressed interest in Kuminga, league sources say the Kings remain the only “legitimate” suitor for the former first-rounder with just over two weeks until the Feb. 5 deadline.
Even then, trade talks between Golden State and Sacramento have yet to gain traction.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater echoed that report earlier this month when he said the Warriors “have not made substantial movement toward getting a Kuminga trade in place.”
“Team sources have said in recent days that they’d be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing enough materializes,” Slater continued.
Golden State’s best option now is likely to play Kuminga for the rest of the season, have him recoup his value, and then attempt to trade him again over the summer.
In 18 games (13 starts) this season, Kuminga has averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, a career-high 2.4 turnovers, and 24.8 minutes per contest while shooting a career-low 43.1% from the field.
