Date of Impending Jonathan Kuminga Trade Revealed

More than one report out there is suggesting that Jonathan Kuminga will finally be freed from the Golden State Warriors in the coming weeks, and one notable analyst is even predicting the date of the trade: January 15th.

Why? That is the date that Kuminga becomes eligible to be dealt, and according to Bill Simmons of The Ringer on his podcast (h/t heavy.com), they won't waste any time in shipping him out.

January 16, he won’t be on the team. It’s just my guess.

The feeling of a certain Kuminga deal has also recently been echoed by noted NBA insider Marc Stein, who called a trade "inevitable."

“Anticipation grows… that Kuminga will be dealt before the Feb. 5 deadline."

Anthony Slater of ESPN has also noted that the beleaguered fifth-year Warrior is back on the second unit and frustrated with his role once again.

"He feels like the scapegoat again," one team source told Slater.

Kuminga came out of the gates on fire, with three 24+ point games in the first nine contests of the year, but then he sank back to single-digit scoring and a bench role, and missed the final four games of their recent road trip with knee tendinitis.

Kuminga, a restricted free agent, was embroiled in a nasty contract holdout for much of the offseason, before finally agreeing to a two-year, $46.8 million contract two days after the preseason began. The deal has a $24.3 million team option. Because of the late date it was signed, Kuminga cannot be traded until at least Jan. 15.

But again, don't expect it to linger on much past that. "It’s one of the best trade chips in the league," an executive informed Stein.

Overall, Kuminga, the former seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, is averaging 13.8 points and 6.6 boards this season.