The Jonathan Kuminga trade situation has not only put trade moves on hold for the Warriors but also for teams like the Kings, Suns, and Bulls, who are reportedly interested in landing Kuminga. A few days ago, the Warriors reportedly shut down all communication with other teams as they changed their minds on trading Kuminga.
The Kings are considered one of the frontrunners to potentially land Kuminga if the Warriors are able to agree on a contract extension with him. Teams like the Kings are now hedging on the Warriors to cave eventually “at the buzzer” to avoid losing Kuminga for absolutely nothing in return, as per rumors.
According to Allen Stiles of Sactown Sports, the radio show, the Kings are still optimistic that they will land Jonathan Kuminga and eventually get Russell Westbrook on their team as a result of the Warriors losing leverage with each passing day. He recently explained on his show how the Kings plan to land both Russell Westbrook and Jonathan Kuminga.
“It is safe to say that the Sacramento Kings do believe that… Jonathan Kuminga will continue to say, ‘I’m going to sign that qualifying offer,’ and at the buzzer, the Golden State Warriors will say, ‘Alright, we can’t afford to lose him for nothing and Malik Monk and a protected pick, that’s better, that’s much, much better than nothing. So let’s go ahead, do the deal and be done with it.”
Stiles said that the Kings currently have too many guards, and that is the reason the Kings’ move has been on hold for Westbrook. Trading Malik Monk away in a package for Kuminga would make the space for Westbrook on their roster with solid rotational minutes.
“And then, because Malik Monk is now gone, Russell Westbrook joins the Kings, and it’s a very, very fascinating training camp that’s about to pop off. To me, that is the main reason this Russell Westbrook stuff hasn’t gone away.“
Stiles went on to claim that there are three games of “chicken” that are being played here. The Warriors are playing one with Kuminga, who is calling their bluff, and the Kings are also calling the Warriors’ supposed bluff on letting Kuminga sign the offer.
If what Stiles claims is true, the Kings are working under a bold assumption that they are going to be the only considerable offer in the market for Jonathan Kuminga. The Bulls and the Suns could still make more enticing offers at that time, and the Kings will be at risk of ruining their plans.
For example, Josh Giddey is a more valuable player at the moment than Malik Monk in the eyes of NBA executives. The Warriors could pivot to negotiating with them instead of the Kings if they feel pressured into making a sign-and-trade deal.
Therefore, the Kings should not work under the assumption that the Warriors will eventually cave to their offer, but rather look to construct a deal for Kuminga that benefits him in the long run if he commits to the Kings after signing an extension with the Warriors to facilitate a sign-and-trade deal.
