Kings offer $63 million, elite role player, first-round pick for disgruntled forward

The Sacramento Kings want to improve their roster with some young talent. They made a controversial trade last season by getting rid of their franchise star, De’Aaron Fox. Now they are picking up the pieces and trying to see how they can stay relevant in an increasingly competitive Western Conference. 

The Kings have set their sights on Jonathan Kuminga. They believe they can maximize Kuminga’s potential by giving him a significant role and the ability to flourish in ways the Golden State Warriors haven’t been able to tap into. 

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings have made a significant Kuminga trade offer that has started to move the needle in trade negotiations. 

“As for the Kings, which last spoke with the Warriors earlier this week, team sources say they’ve offered a three-year, $63 million deal for Kuminga in a proposal that would send veteran guard Malik Monk and their 2030 first-round pick (lottery protected) to the Warriors. If that pick didn’t convey, then the Warriors would get the least favorable of the Kings or San Antonio’s first-round pick in 2031. Those protections have been the primary sticking point, team sources said, as the Warriors have insisted that the first-rounder be unprotected. Thus, the stalemate.”

This is a significant offer. The Kings originally proposed a much weaker package to try to trade for Kuminga. This one might actually pique the Warriors' interest. 

For one, the three-year $63 million deal for Kuminga might not be enough for the wannabe star. Kuminga fancies himself a $25-$30 million a year type player. This is part of why getting a Kuminga sign and trade done has been so difficult. 

Additionally, the Warriors are still standing firm; this offer isn’t quite enough to pry Kuminga from them. 

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If the Kings are willing to risk their draft pick and make it fully unprotected, they could have a deal. If not, the stalemate may continue. 

More NBA: Warriors could land 6-foot-7, NBA champion veteran for criminally cheap contract