The longer Jonathan Kuminga goes without playing, the more rumors about his departure from the Golden State Warriors will persist.
Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have all said the right things. They've encouraged Kuminga to stay ready, that his time will be coming.
But for as long as Kuminga sits, in part because the Warriors favor lineups with Jimmy Butler and Green but not him, there'll be trade and contract wonderings galore.
Here's how it all breaks down.
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Will Warriors trade Jonathan Kuminga?
Here's where much of the Kuminga discussion has gone wrong.
Kuminga clearly can't be traded during the playoffs, but when the playoffs are over, he's no longer a Warriors player.
This is the final year of his rookie deal. Kuminga is due to be a free agent as soon as the 2024-25 season ends.
This doesn't entirely rule out a trade. Some suggestions have had Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal to another team, which has contract and salary implications that could facilitate a deal.
But in essence, Kuminga can choose where he wants to go at the end of the season.
If Golden State keeps sitting him, it seems unlikely he'd stick around.
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Where will Jonathan Kuminga go?
Kuminga is in a semi-similar spot to Jordan Poole when the Warriors let him go.
Poole chose the Wizards, a young, not-yet-competitive team that would allow him to lead and get up a lot of shots.
Kuminga is a player in that mold, not a proven winner but someone with immense talent.
The Brooklyn Nets have been the most popular destination suggested due to their available rotation spots and their available salary.
But take a look at the top of the NBA Draft lottery. Any of those teams could consider Kuminga, almost as a bonus draft pick with some built-in NBA experience.
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