NBA Trade Rumors: Jonathan Kuminga Back on Radar for $3.5 Billion Team Despite Falling Out of Warriors Rotation

Jonathan Kuminga will be eligible to get traded on Jan. 15, and the latest NBA trade rumors suggest that a $3.5 billion franchise is interested. It is despite Kuminga's lack of playing time since mid-November, when he suffered an injury then fell out of Steve Kerr's rotation.

According to NBA analyst Jake Weinbach, the New Orleans Pelicans could be one of Kuminga's suitors once he's eligible for trade. The Pelicans are reportedly "open-minded" about overhauling their roster and are expected to be active before the deadline.

New Orleans has plenty of players who could garner interest from contenders like Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Poole. The franchise already has a couple of building blocks for the future in rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.

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Jonathan Kuminga started the season full of promise after signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract. Kuminga was named a starter by coach Steve Kerr and played really well in the first three weeks of the season. He then started losing minutes before suffering an injury in mid-November.

Kuminga returned at the end of November, but he came off the bench in the next four games. However, Kerr didn't like what he saw from his performances and was subsequently given three straight DNPs. He made a cameo on Dec. 18 against the Phoenix Suns before missing Golden State's last three games.

The Warriors tagged him out on Dec. 20 with an illness, but he received DNPs on Dec. 22 against the Orlando Magic and Dec. 25 against the Dallas Mavericks. Kuminga is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 18 games this season.

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NBA teams expect Warriors to trade Jonathan Kuminga

Speaking on the "NBA on Prime" broadcast on Friday, NBA insider Chris Haynes shared some insight on Jonathan Kuminga's future with the Golden State Warriors. Haynes reported that rival teams believe that the Warriors will trade Kuminga before the deadline on Feb. 5.

"There are rival teams out there that believe that once January 15 comes, that’s when Jonathan Kuminga can be traded," Haynes said, according to ClutchPoints. "When that comes, they do not expect Jonathan Kuminga to still be a member of the Golden State Warriors past the trade deadline, so he is a name to watch as this time goes on. Kuminga has been very frustrated."

Haynes added that Kuminga has had multiple meetings with Steve Kerr, but they aren't on the "same page."

Edited by Juan Paolo David