New Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors on Warriors Future, Kings Talks After Jimmy Butler's Injury

Jonathan Kuminga's trade market is largely unchanged in the wake of Jimmy Butler's season-ending torn ACL, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater.

Slater reported Tuesday that "there have been no recent traction" between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Golden State continues to prefer taking back expiring contracts rather than assume multiyear commitments for Malik Monk or DeMar DeRozan.

Slater added that people around the Warriors believe it's "less likely" Kuminga is even traded now that Butler is out of action.

Butler's injury may leave coach Steve Kerr little choice but to play the 6'7" forward. Prior to suffering a knee injury, he combined to score 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting in losses to the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks.

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General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made a cutting remark when addressing Kuminga's reported trade request.

"As far as the demand, I'm aware of that," Dunleavy told reporters last week. "In terms of demands, when there's a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market. So we'll see how that unfolds."

The Warriors wouldn't have re-signed Kuminga in the summer if they didn't think he had the skills to play a meaningful role for the team. More than that, they signaled their intent to get something worthwhile in return if he were to leave the Bay Area at some point.

The organization has clearly stuck to that mindset, and now he's likely to contribute again on the floor through necessity if nothing else.

That might create a scenario where Kerr and Kuminga can coexist for a few months, and Kuminga's trade value rebounds to a place where the Warriors can flip him in a more favorable deal in the offseason.