The offseason of Jonathan Kuminga is underway. After four seasons with the Golden State Warriors, the 22-year-old wing is eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer. After an up-and-down season that saw him jump in and out of the rotation, along with questions about his fit alongside Jimmy Butler, questions have begun to loom about Kuminga’s future in the Bay Area.
While the Warriors could opt to ink Kuminga to a new contract, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr could opt to trade Kuminga this summer.
According to Mike Scotto of Hoops Hype, a pair of Eastern Conference teams have emerged as potential candidates for Kuminga in a sign-and-trade this offseason. The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls are “teams to monitor” as potential sign-and-trade candidates for Kuminga, per Scotto. Scotto also reported the Warriors have not ruled out the possibility of keeping Kuminga in the Bay Area.
Via Hoops Hype:
The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are two teams to monitor as potential sign-and-trade candidates for Kuminga, league sources told HoopsHype. With that in mind, the Warriors have also not ruled out the possibility of retaining Kuminga, sources said.
Along with Kuminga, the Heat have been one of the teams linked to former Warrior Kevin Durant. The Heat are one of the teams that Durant reportedly prefers to land with in a trade from the Phoenix Suns. According to Scotto, Kuminga is a “fallback option” for the Heat if they can’t work a deal for Durant or Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Miami has prioritized pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he became available this summer) and Durant (whom they’re actively trying to acquire) on their wish list ahead of Kuminga, who’s viewed as a fallback option to the two superstars.
Kuminga has spent the first four seasons of his career with the Warriors after being selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. The 22-year-old forward is coming off a season where he averaged 15.3 points on 45.4% shooting from the field with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 47 games.
Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent when free agency begins on July 6. Players can begin negotiating with each other on June 30 at 3 p.m. PT.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Report: Heat, Bulls teams to monitor as sign-and-trade candidates for Jonathan Kuminga
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
