As the NBA trade market opens up, there is a lot more potential for some blockbuster deals to take place. Trae Young has been shipped off to Washington, and deals involving other stars are brewing. Anthony Davis has attracted interest from teams in the Eastern Conference. The Grizzlies recently made it clear that they are entertaining offers for Ja Morant, according to Shams Charania.
While many teams aim to contend, few are willing to take calculated risks. Young, a four-time All-Star, was traded for C.J McCollum and Corey Krispert. This pales in comparison to what teams have done in the past to acquire players who, while solid contributors, were significantly less impactful or talented. Rudy Gobert and Mikal Bridges were both traded for a boatload of picks, multiple players, and pick swaps. Under the new CBA, which penalizes expensive rosters, NBA teams are more mindful of how their teams are built. While trade rumors flourish, the market remains stale.
So what are the details on the NBA’s latest potential three-team deal?
The NBA’s Latest Three-Team Trade is in the Works
Sacramento’s Proposal
Evan Sidery from Forbes reports that the Sacramento Kings are aggressively pursuing Jonathan Kuminga. The Kings have previously expressed interest in Kuminga when he was a restricted free agent. A secondary aim for Sacramento will be to move Malik Monk‘s contract elsewhere, particularly as he has a player option in 2026-27.
The Warriors are reportedly facing stiff competition in a potential Michael Porter Jr trade, per Heavy Sports. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that other teams interested in Porter Jr include the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks. According to Fischer, the Bulls had talked with the Nuggets last year about a possible trade for Porter Jr, which simply fell through, including a move that would have sent Zach LaVine to the Nuggets.
The Swap
According to Sidery, this proposed trade would result in the Warriors acquiring Porter Jr, Sacramento getting Kuminga, and the Nets receiving Monk, a salary filler, and picks from the Warriors.
Indeed, the Warriors will have to give up the most for this trade to go through. To get Porter Jr, the Dubs will have to trade not just Kuminga, but also Buddy Hield and Moses Moody. Additionally, Porter Jr’s massive contract would likely put the Warriors above the salary cap’s first apron. This limits the flexibility of the moves the Warriors can make, so long as their payroll remains its present size.
Due to Monk having two years remaining on his four-year, $77 million deal, the Kings can acquire Kuminga without sending out any additional assets.
The Warriors currently rank 14th in three-point percentage and 19th in offensive rating. Porter Jr shoots an ultra efficient 41.1% from three, making an average of nearly four three-pointers a game. This makes Porter Jr an excellent addition for the offensively short-handed Warriors. Additionally, the Warriors rank 19th in rebounding, and could benefit greatly from Porter Jr’s stellar ability in that regard.
While this is a trade still up in the air, it is one that reflects the change that has taken place in the NBA. Teams are becoming more cautious of the moves that they make, ever wary of the looming salary cap, which could limit their flexibility in the following seasons.
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