Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly drawing interest from a handful of teams ahead of the Golden State Warriors forward’s restricted free agency.
Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, “the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are two teams to monitor as potential sign-and-trade candidates for Kuminga.” Scotto also noted that Kuminga is “looking for an expanded and consistent role moving forward.”
Kuminga, 22, will have his first chance to explore free agency this summer, though the Warriors can match any offer sheet since he’s a restricted free agent. According to Scotto, Golden State has “not ruled out the possibility of retaining Kuminga.”
Kuminga had an elevated role with the Warriors during the 2023-24 season, starting 46 of the 74 games he played and putting up 16.1 points per game. Despite an outstanding leap in his third year, he played more of a bench role last season, especially after the addition of Jimmy Butler halfway through the year. Injuries also limited him to just 47 games as he put up 15.3 points per contest.
Kuminga has expressed frustrations about being benched in the past.
“I hate the fact that everybody is telling me be ready, get ready,” Kuminga said in April. “I already know that I’m ready. The more you keep telling me to get ready, it becomes kind of irritating.”
Joining either the Heat or Bulls would seemingly give Kuminga the chance to take on a much bigger role. Both teams are young and still in more of a rebuilding stage, which could be the perfect setting for Kuminga to show what he can do when he’s given the green light.
But his future elsewhere depends largely on whether the Warriors are willing to let him walk in free agency. Team governor Joe Lacob told The Athletic’s Anthony Slater in February that Golden State is “absolutely” and “100 percent” committed to re-signing Kuminga.
That kind of enthusiasm from Lacob seemingly indicates that the Warriors are willing to pay a high price to match any offers for Kuminga.
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