NBA Trade Rumors: Warriors Land Red-Hot Michael Porter Jr. and Finally End Association With Jonathan Kuminga in This Mock Deal

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is back on the NBA trade mill. A Monday mock trade by NBA insider Zach Buckley at Bleacher Report proposed a mock trade between the Warriors and Brooklyn Nets that would swap Kuminga and draft assets for red-hot Michael Porter Jr.

“The Warriors could use someone who makes quicker decisions with the basketball and helps better space the floor,” Buckley wrote. “Someone like Porter, who was an ultra-efficient play-finisher alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in Denver and has remained nearly as efficient despite handling a much more featured role in Brooklyn."

Here’s the summary of the proposed deal:

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Warriors Receive:

• Michael Porter Jr.
• Haywood Highsmith

Nets Receive:

• Jonathan Kuminga
• Moses Moody
• Buddy Hield
• 2028 first-round pick
• 2030 first-round pick

Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract with the Warriors ahead of the 2025-26 season after weeks of negotiation. The deal included a team option for the second year, which gave Golden State control and future flexibility, and, as part of the deal, he waived an implicit no-trade clause, giving the Warriors the option to pursue trades for him once he becomes eligible after Jan. 15, 2026.

The contract ended a long summer stalemate in which he and the team disagreed over options and control, and he declined earlier offers seeking greater player control. Kuminga has had a mixed role this season, starting the season with meaningful minutes, but as the Warriors’ rotation tightened, his minutes and on-court influence have fluctuated. He is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 24.8 minutes per game played.

Porter Jr. was traded to the Nets for Cam Johnson. He was moved mainly for financial flexibility as his large contract, roughly $38 million in 2025-26 and $40 million in 2026-27 per Spotrac, made it harder for the Nuggets to manage their cap under the new collective bargaining rules. In Brooklyn, he has emerged as the team’s No. 1 scoring option, averaging career-highs 25.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 3.3 apg.

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What’s next for Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors?

Jonathan Kuminga’s stock remains high despite him seeing limited action so far in the 2025/26 season. Aside from the Nets, rumors have linked him to the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings, the latter reportedly being shut down by an insider.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga - Source: Imagn

However, the Warriors might eventually keep him if he starts playing well and fits better with Curry, Jimmy Butler and the current rotation. Also, because the Warriors have the flexibility to use him as a trade asset, he might be used if meaningful upgrades like a shooter, defender or elite wing become available.

Edited by Ubong Richard