Facilitating A Potential Jonathan Kuminga Trade Deal Between Warriors And Suns

The Golden State Warriors‘ saga with Jonathan Kuminga has been one of the talking points of the offseason. As Kuminga remains adamant in his trade demands, the Phoenix Suns have emerged as a potential trade destination.

The current situation sees the Warriors in a relatively weakened position. Although Kuminga is a restricted free agent, he currently holds some leverage over Golden State. This is primarily because contract negotiations with the forward are currently hindering the Warriors from completing any signings to reinforce their roster.

The 22-year-old reportedly expects to earn an annual salary of $30 million. Needless to say, the Warriors aren’t prepared to comply. This situation has opened the door for teams like the Suns and Kings to present trade offers.

The Dubs haven’t been inclined to entertain Sacramento’s trade offer, primarily due to the exclusion of Keon Ellis from negotiations. This gives the Suns a solid chance of acquiring the 22-year-old forward.

To facilitate this deal, we present a proposal that would allow Phoenix to acquire Kuminga in a sign-and-trade scenario. 

Proposed Trade Details

Golden State Warriors Receive: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards, 2027 first-round pick (WAS swap)

Phoenix Suns Receive: Jonathan Kuminga

This proposal has significant benefits for both teams involved, particularly for the Warriors, as it allows them to sign two of their key free agent targets right away.

The Suns Acquire Their Third Star

For the Suns, this deal holds a lot of merit. With the acquisition of Jonathan Kuminga, Phoenix acquires another young star to add to its newly formed core.

Featuring Devin Booker and Jalen Green in the starting backcourt, the Suns would be adding a firestarter in Kuminga to significantly enhance their offensive capabilities.

Kuminga brings a lot to the table for Phoenix. As the organization embraces the rebuilding process, a young forward like Kuminga is the ideal piece to add to the mix.

With a blend of versatile shot-creating ability and elite athleticism, the 22-year-old is poised to be a gifted scorer in the right situation. When factoring in his tremendous physical tools as well, the forward has considerable upside.

For the 2024-25 season, Kuminga didn’t receive as much playing time as he would have hoped, leading to reduced productivity. Still, he put up an average of 15.3 points and 4.6 assists per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field and 30.5% from three-point range.

While there is certainly room for improvement in his perimeter shooting and defense, the Suns could benefit from investing in his talent.

On the downside, Kuminga may not be a primary scoring option on the Suns’ roster. With established offensive threats like Booker and Green leading the way, the 22-year-old may need to contribute in ways beyond scoring to be considered valuable.

The Warriors Add Necessary Roster Depth

The Warriors may benefit more from this trade in the greater scheme of things. With the addition of three capable role players and a first-round draft pick, the Dubs may be significantly better off heading into the upcoming season.

The additions of Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale would be huge for Golden State’s wing depth. Both Allen and O’Neale are terrific three-and-D players.

Last season, Allen averaged 10.6 points and 3.2 rebounds on shooting splits of 44.8% from the field and 42.6% from three-point range. Allen’s efficiency as a perimeter shooter would make him a natural fit with the Dubs, and his defensive intensity would give their bench rotation a much-needed boost.

O’Neale brings a skill set similar to Allen’s. With an average of 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds last season, the forward shot 42.3% from the field and 40.6% from beyond the arc. 

The 32-year-old primarily contributes on the defensive end, often tasked with guarding top wing scorers. His ability to stay in front of his man while also being able to guard multiple positions could be viewed favorably by Golden State’s front office.

While bolstering their wing depth, the Warriors would also acquire a capable big man in Nick Richards. The 27-year-old has shown himself to be a serviceable center who would provide the Warriors with depth in their frontcourt rotation.

Last season, Richards averaged 9.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Given his limited perimeter shooting, he could be an ideal replacement for Kevon Looney, who joined the Pelicans as a free agent this offseason.

Richards’ addition could be key to improving Golden State’s rebounding efforts. With a legitimate seven-footer on their team who can crash the glass, the Dubs may see a lot of value in this acquisition.

The Warriors May Not Do This Deal

Although this deal offers clear benefits for both teams involved, it is quite likely that Golden State will pass on this proposal, primarily because of the package being centered around Grayson Allen.

A recent report by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel suggested that the Warriors have no interest in Allen, regardless of how he could have a positive impact on the team. This becomes an obstacle in facilitating a trade with the Suns.

While Kuminga isn’t in a rush to get a deal done, the Dubs may benefit from facilitating a move sooner rather than later. 

Should Horford and Melton opt to sign with other teams in this time of uncertainty, Golden State could be in a bad spot heading into the upcoming season.