A 3-Team De'Andre Hunter, Jonathan Kuminga Trade Idea Where Everyone Wins
The NBA trade deadline is just weeks away, which means teams are quickly running out of time to upgrade their rosters and put a merciful end to some player-coach drama (looking at you, Warriors).
The struggling (and expensive) Cleveland Cavaliers could look to move De'Andre Hunter if they still believe in the core four, even if he doesn't want to go anywhere.
Jonathan Kuminga will almost certainly be traded by the Golden State Warriors. Swapping the two (with some other moving pieces) could work, although Kuminga would be better suited on a younger team without title aspirations.
Hunter, however, would be a stabilizing force at forward for the Warriors as a Kuminga replacement.
Here's how a deal could get done with the help of a third team.
Full Trade Scenario
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Golden State Warriors Receive:
Phoenix Suns Receive:
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive:
There are no time restrictions on this trade, one that could be completed immediately now that Kuminga is eligible to be dealt.
No draft picks need to switch hands, either, which is good considering both the Cavs and Suns are running short on them. The Warriors also save their four tradeable first-round picks to go star-chasing with this summer if they need to while putting an end to the Kuminga saga.
Why the Golden State Warriors Do It
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Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade from the Golden State Warriors, according to Anthony Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN, a move that's hardly been unexpected.
"Team sources said that essentially every major figure on the ground level of the operation -- most notably Kuminga, Kerr and the veterans watching a $22.5 million player sit on the bench while the team is stuck in a 'mediocre' state, as Jimmy Butler called it -- agree that the best resolution is to trade Kuminga prior to the deadline," they reported.
De'Andre Hunter, 28, is a near-identical salary match to Kuminga ($23.3 million to $22.5 million), and adding in Trayce Jackson-Davis actually helps the Warriors shed a little money and stay below the second apron.
Hunter brings good size to Golden State's wing at 6'8", as he can play either forward position and serve as a starter or sixth man. He's played some of his best basketball lately, averaging 15.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 37.1 percent shooting from three over the last two seasons between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
His laid-back personality and drama-free game would be a refreshing change of pace for a Warriors organization that's had to pretend the house wasn't on fire even though Kuminga was constantly running around with a box of matches.
With a core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Al Horford and Hunter, the Warriors could make a second-half run up the standings and would no longer have the Kuminga cloud hovering over the organization.
Why the Phoenix Suns Do It
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The Phoenix Suns reportedly made the "most lucrative push" to try to pull off a sign-and-trade for Kuminga last summer, with a proposal of up to $90 million over four years according to ESPN's Charania and Slater.
At 24-16 now, the Suns have mostly exceeded expectations and could use Kuminga as a starter at forward alongside Dillon Brooks. Before he fell out of favor again with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Kuminga was averaging 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists on 45.5 percent shooting overall in his 13 starts.
With so many future picks already going out, the Suns need to build a team that can win now and for years to come. Players like Devin Booker and Brooks allow Phoenix to compete today, while 23-year-olds such as Jalen Green and Kuminga offer some real upside over the next decade.
New head coach Jordan Ott is quickly becoming a master of player development, helping Evan Mobley break out with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season and seeing career years from players like Brooks, Grayson Allen, Mark Williams and Collin Gillespie now.
The Suns are finally a stable enough organization to take on a talent like Kuminga and put him in a position to flourish, something we couldn't have said a year ago.
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers Do It
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If the Cleveland Cavaliers trade Hunter, they'll want a player or players back in return who can help them win immediately. If they can do so while trimming current and future payroll off their league-high $228 million salary commitments, consider that an added bonus.
A return of Royce O'Neale, Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards checks a lot of boxes for the Cavs and would undoubtedly please franchise star Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell and O'Neale became close during their time with the Utah Jazz, and the latter is currently enjoying a career year with the Phoenix Suns.
O'Neale is averaging 10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and making 41.9 percent of his threes, with over 82 percent of his total shots coming from outside the arc. He'd be the favorite to take Hunter's spot in the rotation and possibly serve as the team's starting small forward between Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
Ryan Dunn, 23, is a 6'7" defensive whiz who can guard nearly every position. The Cavs have slipped to 14th overall in defense this season, an area where Dunn would instantly become one of their best players.
Nick Richards gives the Cavs some center depth and has averaged 14.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. He also comes on an expiring $5 million salary, helping Cleveland shave some money off the payroll for next year.
This trade would save the Cavaliers $5.5 million immediately and another $11.3 million next season, eliminating over half their second apron money ($20.9 million) in 2026-27.
