Jonathan Kuminga was believed to be seeking a maximum-salary or near-max contract ahead of Monday’s rookie scale extension deadline, which is why he and the Warriors didn’t agree to terms on a deal, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said today on the B/R App. However, Fischer believes Golden State will be comfortable paying Kuminga big money if he shows this season that his impressive stretch from January to March was no fluke and continues to take strides toward stardom.
“The Warriors will be happy to pay Jonathan Kuminga that top dollar if that sample size is stretched out over the entire course of the 2024/25 season,” Fischer said.
Still, Fischer noted that Kuminga isn’t necessarily a lock to remain with the Warriors long-term and suggested two potential suitors worth keeping an eye on for the fourth-year forward (video clip).
One is no surprise: Brooklyn is currently the only team projected to have maximum-salary cap room and Fischer says Kuminga has “come up” in past trade talks between the Nets and Warriors. The Nets aren’t necessarily specifically targeting the 22-year-old, Fischer clarifies, but their cap situation makes them a potential threat when Kuminga reaches restricted free agency, especially since general manager Sean Marks has shown a willingness in the past to sign RFAs to lucrative offer sheets.
The other team worth watching, according to Fischer, is the Sixers, who would only have a chance to acquire Kuminga on the trade market. Philadelphia has conveyed a willingness to give up draft capital to add another impact player, Fischer explains, and could use KJ Martin‘s pseudo-expiring contract as a salary-matching piece.
That sort of deal may not appeal to the Warriors, and acquiring Kuminga and then paying him in free agency would result in a massive payroll in 2025/26 and beyond for the 76ers, who already have three players on maximum-salary contracts. But Fischer suggests Philadelphia has “a lot of willingness” to go deep into luxury tax territory for the right opportunity to “cement (their) title window.”
Here are a few more trade notes and rumors from around the league:
- According to Fischer, Trey Murphy was another player believed to be on the Nets‘ and Sixers‘ radars as a potential free agent and trade target, respectively, but he’s off the table after signing a four-year, $112MM extension with the Pelicans.
- After identifying Celtics guard Jaden Springer as a trade candidate last week, Fischer reiterated that point in his rumor round-up on Friday, noting that moving Springer at or before the February trade deadline would create tax savings for Boston and would open up a roster spot for Lonnie Walker or another player. Fischer added that the Celtics recently called a number of teams to gauge Springer’s trade value.
- The Sixers, Heat, Bucks, and Suns are among the teams that have spoken to P.J. Tucker‘s representation about a possible trade, sources tell Kelly Iko and Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). As we relayed on Thursday, the Clippers have granted Tucker’s agent Andre Buck permission to talk to potential trade partners to try to find his client a new home, but the veteran forward’s $11.54MM cap hit will make it difficult to find a deal that works for L.A.
Grab your popcorn…
PJ Tucker is tradable.
About 50 players who have overpaid contracts.
annual salary between $10 million and $11.7 million = 24 players
As a sixers fan I’m not that high on Kuminga(would like to see him improve his outside shot) but at 22 he still has some upside.
Why would the Warriors do that deal ever? I mean if they trade Kuminga it will be part of a package for a superstar. There is no way theyre going to trade him for draft compensation while Curry is still on the team.
This is the most ridiculous idea Ive every heard.
Bleacher report is barely sports journalism. Its more like sports twitter as a platform
The only time I’ve heard Sports journalism and Bleacher Report in the same sentence is when someone said,
“Bleacher Report is definitely not Sports journalism.”
13Morgs, this was my sentiment last season. But I think his maturity is starting to kick in and I believe he’s improving and will improve even more.., including his outside shot.
Also it’s factually ok if he ends up a high end hustle role player ! If he’s never a star or even all star it’s not gonna be that disappointing at all
Raptors probably don’t have the pieces or cap space but kuminga would look good as their small forward
Rj quick kuminga Barnes Jakob
Brown’s expiring plus dick and Walter….?
I think the LAC are sitting about 3 mm over the tax threshold. If they can’t find a real taker for Tucker (likely), I would think that any deal that gets them below the tax threshold would end up being acceptable. Even Ballmer can’t appreciate paying repeater penalties with his current team.
Why is all the NBA media always trying to tear apart the Warriors? These writers are literally never like this about any other team.
GSW literally said “play better and we will pay whatever you want” but suddenly that means a trade is on the horizon? Idiotic-level reaching, nothing at all to report here. Now if JK plays badly the whole season, like he did in the first game vs Portland, you might have a story, but there’s 81 games left for JK to show himself as a star-level regular.
Or a high end role player which is would also be a great result