Jonathan Kuminga’s summer could go either way.
The Golden State Warriors may keep Kuminga around for a cheap price or trade him to a franchise that would be a better fit for his skill set.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus predicts the franchise will elect option No. 2 and receive a Los Angeles Lakers draft bust in the process.
“Golden State can try to retain him (Kuminga) on his one-year $8 million qualifying offer, but that path limits the team’s ability to trade him, and an incoming franchise wouldn’t have his rights after a deal,” Pincus wrote Thursday.
“Sign-and-trade gives closure and doesn’t put Kuminga in a position to play for a team that didn’t value him enough to reward him with the salary he believes he deserves.”
“If Chicago (Bulls) is the team willing to step up, it’s a question of the return. If the Warriors send out Kuminga just above $30 million, they only get credit for sending out half of that in trade ($15 million).”
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“(Lonzo) Ball has struggled to stay healthy but is an incredible fit alongside the Warriors’ stars. He plays defense, moves the ball, and can catch and shoot.”
In Pincus’ three-team trade proposal, the Bulls would receive Kuminga, the Warriors would receive Ball, Jalen Smith, Josh Okogie, and five future draft picks, and the Charlotte Hornets would receive Moody and Jevon Carter (trade can’t occur until July 6).
ClutchPoints’ Bailey Bassett wisely listed Ball as one of the worst draft mistakes in Lakers history in a recent article.
There’s no question that Ball, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, is an NBA talent, but he failed to get the job done with the Lakers to begin his professional career.
The UCLA product’s inability to avoid crushing injuries and earn respect from opponents from beyond the arc (he shot below 35% from three with the Lakers) left him without a spot on the organization’s roster beyond the 2018-19 season.
The Lakers completed a blockbuster 2019 offseason trade, sending Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and draft capital to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis.
While Ball’s perimeter jumper has improved (he’s connected on at least 35% of his triples on three occasions) since leaving Los Angeles, his health hasn’t. The 6-foot-6 guard has only appeared in 188 regular-season contests between 2019 and 2025 due to various injuries.
Still, Ball’s defensive discipline and encouraging three-point shooting progress could benefit the Warriors next season.
If the Warriors weren’t swayed by Kuminga’s 20.8 points per game showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs, Pincus’ trade idea could materialize in the upcoming weeks.
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