Jonathan Kuminga’s infamous summer stand-off with the Golden State Warriors officially ended on Tuesday, as it was reported that the former No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft agreed to terms on a two-year, $48.5 million contract, including a team option on the second year.
Though Kuminga’s camp successfully shook hands on a new deal with Golden State, a recent update has indicated that Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy’s work is far from finished on the Kuminga front.
In fact, the possibility of a crucial mid-season trade to place more proven talent alongside Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green remains fully on the table.
The high-flying forward and 15.3-point scorer in 2024-25 has made it abundantly clear that Golden State might not be his forever home, and the Warriors’ front office will aim to scour the trade market this season to find a suitable partner in a deal for the athletic former lottery pick as a result.
“Kuminga’s $24.3 million salary will be utilized for Golden State to find a better win-now fit for their roster,” Forbes’ Evan Sidery shared via Twitter/X on Wednesday.
A massive reason for the Warriors giving Kuminga such a hefty annual salary was purely for making a trade for an accomplished star easier from a financial perspective.
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With Kuminga’s $24.3 million salary and potentially that of Buddy Hield’s $9.2 million yearly figure, the Warriors can create a sizable amount of money to send out in a deal for an All-Star caliber difference-maker.
If the Warriors are able to concoct a trade that lands a skilled competitor with championship D.N.A. while sending Kuminga to his desired destination, the team could be well on its way to fighting for its eighth title in franchise history.
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