Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga officially became trade eligible on January 15. Shortly after, the young forward requested a move away from the franchise. The development did not come as a shock, considering Kuminga’s recent absence from the rotation and ongoing speculation about his strained relationship with head coach Steve Kerr.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as a team with genuine interest in acquiring Kuminga. According to Dalton Johnson, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is reportedly a strong admirer of Kuminga and sees value in pairing him as an athletic wing alongside Luka Doncic.
“Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is a fan of Kuminga’s, sources say, and likes the idea of him as an athletic wing on a Luka Dončić-led team,” the report read. “The Warriors have been aware of the Lakers’ likeness for Kuminga, though it’s unclear how likely an in-season move between the two teams is.”
Kuminga is believed to see himself as a future star, while the Warriors have largely viewed him as a role player. In 18 games this season, he has averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. At this stage, a fresh start appears increasingly necessary for both sides, and only time will tell how the Jonathan Kuminga saga ultimately ends in Golden State.
Steve Kerr Breaks Silence on Jonathan Kuminga Trade Request Amid Warriors Turmoil
Kuminga was present at the Warriors’ home shootaround ahead of their game against the New York Knicks. During his pregame media availability, Kerr addressed questions surrounding Kuminga’s trade request and the current state of their relationship.
“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said. “There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It just is what it is, difficult situation for everybody. And part of this league, part of the job. So we just keep moving forward. But it’s a tough situation, and I don’t really have much to add. I know he was at Shootaround this morning.
“We talked this morning, and that’s all private. I will keep coaching him, and he’s- He’ll be part of the team and he’ll be here and it is what it is. Jonathan’s a great young guy, his teammates like him. He’s handling himself well. There won’t be a distraction.”
Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a team option last September after lengthy negotiations. Even at the time of the agreement, reports suggested that trade possibilities could surface once Kuminga became eligible in January.
Moreover, the trade request was widely anticipated, as Kuminga’s role steadily diminished under Kerr. He has not appeared in the Warriors’ last 13 games and has been a healthy DNP on 16 occasions this season.
