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3 Best Realistic Jonathan Kuminga Trades for the Golden State Warriors
Happy Jonathan Kuminga Day to all those who celebrate!
Jan. 15 marks the long-awaited end to a stalemate that has largely defined the Golden State Warriors' season. Kuminga, who signed a two-year deal after a protracted restricted-free-agency staring contest, is now eligible to be traded.
He marked the occasion by officially demanding to be moved, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.
This is a relatively new holiday and is therefore short on traditions. Warriors fans will likely gather with their loved ones, rejoice in the knowledge that they'll soon have a playable body on the roster instead of one that has been out of the rotation for weeks and, perhaps, lament just how disappointing the entire Kuminga experience has been.
After that, they'll take out their phones and start mocking up trades.
Kuminga's value has taken hit after hit over the last several months, and it's now laughable that the Warriors wouldn't consider including him in their offers for Lauri Markkanen two offseasons ago. With that in mind, let's lay out three new trade ideas that reflect the market's new (and diminished) perception of the 23-year-old former lottery pick.
Warriors Land Michael Porter Jr.
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Golden State Warriors Acquire: Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets Acquire: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, 2026 first-round pick, 2028 first-round swap
Per Slater, Golden State "would be willing to move multiple first-round draft picks" if the right star became available. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis both seemingly off the market, Porter Jr. might come closest to clearing that bar.
MPJ is in the midst of a career year, averaging 25.7 points per game while shooting 40.1 percent from deep. The durability concerns that dogged him early in his career aren't nearly as relevant in the wake of him missing just 13 games since the start of the 2023-24 season. His shooting, newly revealed self-sufficient offense and size would give the Warriors elements they lack–and it certainly doesn't hurt that Porter Jr. has already proved he can make high-end contributions to a title-winner.
For a Dubs team that continually falls apart on offense whenever Stephen Curry sits, this year's version of Porter Jr. would be a godsend.
Brooklyn might prefer to rope in a third team or press the Warriors for even more draft compensation, but it needs to be careful about getting greedy. MPJ's value is at an all-time high, and the Nets may not want to risk waiting on a move. If Porter Jr. misses time or regresses on offense, he won't return the kind of hypothetical offer we've just put on the table. Remember, it was just a few months ago that the Denver Nuggets had to include a draft pick to trade away his salary.
Delaying until the offseason would officially make MPJ a rental; his contract expires after next season.
Both parties should be motivated to make this happen.
Klay Thompson Returns Home
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Golden State Warriors Acquire: Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson
Dallas Mavericks Acquire: Jonathan Kuminga, Georges Niang
Utah Jazz Acquire: Buddy Hield, 2027 first-round swap (via GSW)
Sentiment wins out here, as the Warriors bring back Thompson in a deal that also nets them the most athletic big man they've had in years. Gafford has had a hard time staying healthy of late, but he logged at least 72 games every year from 2021-22 to 2023-24. His lob-catching and rim protection would play well in any Golden State lineup that doesn't include fellow non-spacer Draymond Green.
Thompson is owed $17.5 million next season and hasn't played at a level that justifies his salary, but there's an undeniable appeal to getting him back in the fold for what might be the dynastic core's last go-round in 2026-27. Curry, Green and Thompson's contracts all expire after next season.
The Mavs get younger and gain flexibility with Kuminga coming aboard alongside Niang's expiring deal. Because it looks like no extension is coming for the injured Anthony Davis, it makes sense for Dallas to begin assembling players who make sense in Cooper Flagg's timeline. At 23 and under contract via team option for next season, Kuminga fits the bill.
Utah steps in to facilitate, taking on Buddy Hield and swap rights on Golden State's 2027 first-rounder for its trouble. If there's a hangup here, it's the Jazz's valuation of a Warriors pick that may not be higher than its own two drafts from now. Then again, the Warriors are an admitted fading dynasty, while Utah's trajectory is angling up. Only $3 million of Hield's 2026-27 salary is guaranteed, and the potential upside of that swap seems like enough compensation to pique the Jazz's interest.
Warriors Get Even Older
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Golden State Warriors Acquire: Norman Powell
Miami Heat Acquire: Jonathan Kuminga, 2026 first-round pick
Powell became eligible for a four-year, $129 million extension on Jan. 7 and has yet to cut a deal with the Heat. Does that mean Miami is hesitating on a contract that would further bloat books already stuffed with hefty 2026-27 salaries for Bam Adebayo ($49.8 million), Tyler Herro ($33 million) and Andrew Wiggins ($30 million player option)?
Powell has been spectacular, inexplicably improving on last year's career-best work. At 32, it's hard to imagine the trend line continuing to climb, but the sweet-shooting wing could slip from his current averages of 23.9 points and 2.7 assists on a 48.5/41.4/85.5 split and still be a hugely valuable starter.
If Miami is nonetheless squeamish about committing big money, the Warriors' track record suggests they won't be. Already fielding a roster loaded with players on the wrong side of 30 (and 35 for that matter), the Dubs could rightly see Powell as an excellent rental or someone worth keeping around. They extended Jimmy Butler shortly after landing him a year ago, so there's a precedent here.
Powell has functioned as an offensive alpha for long stretches in Miami and would offer a jolt to Golden State's often listless attack. The Heat could see Kuminga's $24 million team option for next season as a preferable alternative to a much richer deal for Powell, who's bound to decline eventually. Note, too, that Herro is also in line for an extension on his current deal. There may be only so much money to go around in Miami.
The draft pick sweetener could be enough to push a deal across the finish line, though the Heat might even feel bold enough to ask for a more distant first that capitalizes on a post-Curry version of the Warriors.
Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.
Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.
