Warriors predicted to cut ties with mega-talented wing this summer

The Golden State Warriors have officially entered their offseason, and big roster moves could be coming.

All eyes are on 22-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose future with the team is uncertain. Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this summer. He can sign an offer with any team, but Golden State will have the right to match.

According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors and Kuminga are poised to explore sign-and-trade scenarios, signaling a potential end to Kuminga’s tenure in Golden State. 

“Both sides are expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios … which would open up the market and theoretically give Kuminga the contract and fresh start he’d desire while bringing the Warriors back rotation players of immediate value,” Slater wrote on Thursday.

“The Warriors’ decision-makers believe they need more positional size across the board — center and otherwise.”

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Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has shown flashes of star potential. However, his inconsistent role has often fueled trade speculation. With Golden State prioritizing immediate contributors to complement Stephen Curry, a sign-and-trade could yield assets to address their need for size and depth.

Potential landing spots for Kuminga include the Brooklyn Nets, who are sitting on two assets in Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton that would appeal to Golden State.

Kuminga’s athleticism and upside command attention league-wide. His sweepstakes will be a storyline to watch, with the Warriors likely aiming to float him out into the market and maximize their championship window.

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