Insider Gives Update on Jonathan Kuminga Trade Saga

The Golden State Warriors have until Feb. 5 to make a trade this season, and Jonathan Kuminga is the player most likely to be moved.

But that doesn't mean he will be moved.

ESPN's Anthony Slater wrote the following on Tuesday:

"Multiple team sources have described it as less likely Kuminga is moved following Jimmy Butler's right ACL tear. ... There's internal conversation that he'd get another crack at minutes post-deadline -- if he's still around."

Kuminga Timeline This Season

For those uninitiated, Kuminga spent the offseason in restricted free agency limbo. Most teams didn't have cap space to sign him to an offer sheet, and the teams most interested in him—the Kings and Suns—made sign-and-trade offers for him that the Warriors rebuffed.

After months of contract negotiations, Kuminga finally agreed to a two-year, $46.8 million deal in late September. The contract had a team option in the second season, making it an attractive contract for opposing teams to acquire.

But Kuminga couldn't be traded until Jan. 15, so the Warriors, at least at first, planned to play him consistent minutes to help the team win and increase his trade value.

Kuminga got off to a great start before suffering a knee injury. He struggled in four games after his return, and that's when Steve Kerr decided to sit him entirely against the Bulls on Dec. 7.

When Kerr went back to Kuminga against the Suns on Dec. 18, he was clearly not fully engaged, and that led to 16 straight DNPs.

On Jan. 15, the first day he was eligible to be traded, a report about him demanding a trade went public.

After Butler's injury, Kerr played Kuminga against the Raptors and Mavericks. He had 30 points in 30 minutes in those games before suffering a knee injury.

Warriors' Options

The first option is to trade a player who wants to be traded. I know, what a novel concept.

But Mike Dunleavy has said he won't make a bad-value trade just to acquiesce Kuminga's trade demand.

The second option is to keep him, play him and then look to trade him in the offseason.

It's unlikely he'll have more trade value a few months from now with a less attractive contract, but the Warriors might argue they'd be in a better spot from a leverage perspective if they hold onto him.

The third option is to keep him, play him and then look to make him a rotation fixture next season.

This last option might essentially guarantee Kerr does not come back for next season.

Kerr is in the last season of his contract. The Ringer's Logan Murdock wrote the following on Kerr's future:

"Though Kerr has publicly been mum about his future, multiple assistant coaches have been operating under the premise that he will not return next season, according to team sources, with some surveying the league to secure jobs next season."

Kerr might be gone regardless of what happens with Kuminga, but keeping him with the intent to play him next season might push Kerr over the edge.

It's less about Kerr's feelings on Kuminga as a player and more about the disconnect between Kerr and team governor Joe Lacob.

Lacob continues to value the future over the present—for example, the Warrrios currently own all seven future first-round picks—and keeping Kuminga is just another instance of valuing the unlikely prospect of Kuminga having a star turn over trading for someone who can really help the team for the next 1.5 years.

That's arguably a disservice to Kerr, Stephen Curry and those trying to win now.