When Stephen Curry isn’t on the court, the Golden State Warriors’ offense often lacks flow and rhythm. The front office is expected to address the issue by exploring potential upgrades through the trade market, particularly involving a young player long rumored to be outside the team’s future plans.
Warriors Will Look To Get Stephen Curry Help via Trades
The Warriors, once regarded as the most potent offense behind Curry’s offensive prowess, are nowhere near that level. Curry is still hitting the same type of shots and still attracting the same defensive attention. However, his supporting cast has been severely downgraded from those championship runs.
If Golden State wants to make a strong playoff push, a trade ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline is the immediate solution. Once again, forward Jonathan Kuminga is being named as the asset most likely to be shipped.
Based on what NBA insider Shams Charania’s reporting for ESPN, the only thing standing in the way of trade talks is Kuminga’s eligibility to be traded.
“The Warriors will discuss trades for forward Jonathan Kuminga when he is eligible to be moved Jan. 15,” Charania wrote. “Golden State wants to find upgrades on its roster, and Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary could be used in bigger trade scenarios.”
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Kuminga’s time in Golden State is best defined by fluctuating minutes and occasional DNPs despite being healthy. His most recent benching came Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, a move by head coach Steve Kerr that drew flak from fans.
When he’s seeing action, Kuminga’s performance can be described as inconsistent. He sometimes shows up as one of the best offensive tools in Kerr’s bag, while in other games, he appears to hurt the team with poor decision-making on his shots.
Discussions about Kuminga leaving the team aren’t new. This past offseason, there were talks that he could be included in a sign-and-trade deal. Golden State entered conversations with the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings regarding a potential trade.
He ultimately remained with Golden State as a restricted free agent after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal. His contract is only guaranteed through the end of the 2025-26 season, since the second year of the deal is a team option.
Despite the final year of the contract being non-guaranteed, its value remains head-scratching. After all, it is hard to justify paying that amount to a player who will be riding the bench or losing minutes despite being healthy.
