The Warriors are eyeing a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, here are 16 different scenarios that involve one.
The Golden State Warriors season is long over, and with the NBA Finals on the verge of ending, the offseason will officially soon be upon us. So, naturally I began a process of attempting to run through the Warriors offseason as if I was in the basketball operations department to prepare myself for as many possibilities as possible.
Normally I keep most of these notes, which are ultimately just my educated guesses, to myself, but I figured I would share them this year in hopes of helping readers get a sense of the scope of possibilities available to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. as he works with Joe Lacob and Steve Kerr to build the 2025-26 team.
I ended up compiling 31 different scenarios (32 if you count the Desmond Bane trade that I had to cut after he was traded to the Magic), and split them into three different parts centered around the Dubs biggest offseason conundrum: Jonathan Kuminga.
Below are 15 scenarios for the Warriors offseason predicated on the team sign-and-trading Kuminga.
(Links to the follow up will be added here when they publish)
Part 1: 6 Re-signing Jonathan Kuminga scenarios
Part 3: 10 scenarios renouncing the rights for Jonathan Kuminga
Parameters:
- Assume the Warriors renounce the rights to every free agent except for Kuminga before the start of each scenario.
- I could only have the Warriors trade for the same player in two scenarios (and it had to be a different deal the second time).
- I could only have the Warriors sign the same player as a free agent in one scenario.
- There was no limit on how many scenarios I could have the Warriors re-sign their players.
These restrictions lead to Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Pat Spencer, and Braxton Key as largely filling out the back ends of these rosters. Payton and Looney could surely be replaced by other vet minimum players the Warriors could attract. Spencer and Key should largely be viewed as placeholders for open competitions that would go through training camp and the preseason, although they would obviously have incumbent advantages.
The case for sign-and-trading Jonathan Kuminga (15)
I won’t go into much detail here because I think everyone understands why the Warriors would be willing to make a sign-and-trade with Jonathan Kuminga. Even if Kuminga is a future All-Star, perhaps even capable of leading a contender, it seems like he remains multiple seasons of growing pains away from reaching that point. The Warriors simply have too much riding on Steph Curry to gamble a season or two away on Kuminga’s potential.
If you’re high on Kuminga, you believe he can continue to develop while finding a secondary role. However, as Kerr relegated him to the bench late in the season, he signaled disagreement. If that’s the internal belief, then it’s time to swap Kuminga for more immediate help.
Scenario 7: Jazz sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Moses Moody, 2026 GS 1st, 2028 GS 1st to Jazz for Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Svi Mykhailiuk, 2030 LAC 2nd
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Braxton Key (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Collin Sexton
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, 41st overall pick
SF: Jimmy Butler, Svi Mykhailiuk, Braxton Key
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos, Gary Payton II
C: Walker Kessler, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
The Jazz are often limited by their inability to attract impact players in free agency. So, the limited options available to Jonathan Kuminga could give them a unique opportunity to land a potential All-Star on a reasonably priced long-term deal while also ingratiate themselves with him going forward. If the Warriors are eyeing Kessler and the Jazz are intrigued by Kuminga, Collin Sexton would offer an easy path to a sign-and-trade.
Sexton has many similarities with Jordan Poole, who would still be in Golden State if Green was a less reprehensible colleague, and would immediately infuse the ball handling and scoring prowess they desperately need. Sexton has averaged 18.6 points and 4.6 assists in 27.2 minutes per game over the past two seasons with the Jazz on an impressively efficient 52.3% shooting from two, 39.9% from three, and 86.2% from the free-throw line.
While Sexton has always been productive throughout his career, he’s also never appeared in a playoff game. Still, the fact that he was able to score so efficiently with such a weak supporting cast bodes well for his chances of thriving in Goldne Sate. Entering the final year of his contract with a $18.975 million salary, he’s an excellent value.
It’s worth noting that the Dubs may simply trade Moody, Santos, and a first-round pick for Sexton and call it a day. However, the fact is Kessler and Sexton address Golden State’s two biggest needs and are both in their mid-20s. If no superstar is attainable, the Warriors could do a lot worse (both now and in the future).
A sign-and-trade with Kuminga packaged alongside Moody and the Warriors 2026 and 2028 first-round picks (both unprotected) would be a massive return for two players in line for sizable extensions after next season. Granted, Utah would absolutely be in a position to apply more pressure to at least recoup a first-round pick swap in 2029 and/or 2031.
Scenario 8: Nikola Vučević sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Blazers in four-team deal
Warriors get: Nikola Vučević, Matisse Thybulle, Julian Phillips
Blazers get: Moses Moody
Bulls get: Jonathan Kuminga, Malaki Branham, SA 2028 2nd, GS 2028 2nd (from POR)
Spurs get: Buddy Hield
sign Taurean Prince (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Eric Gordon (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Pat Spencer, 41st overall pick
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Matisse Thybulle, Eric Gordon
SF: Jimmy Butler, Taurean Prince, Julian Phillips
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos
C: Nikola Vučević, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
The Warriors made it clear at the deadline that they have no interest in trading a first-round pick for Nikola Vučević. Perhaps they concede this offseason, but the Bulls dearth of wings and Moody’s new contract and/or the prospect of Kuminga landing in Chicago makes it easier to envision both sides finally agreeing to a deal.
The Bulls would turn Vučević and Julian Phillips (who has consistently been buried on the Bulls depth chart) into Kuminga, another young former first-round pick (Branham), and a pair of second rounders. With the Bulls seemingly looking at a future built around Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, a young athletic scorer like Kuminga would seem to be a good compliment.
The Blazers would turn Thybulle’s expiring deal coming off an injury into Moody’s young promise just by adding a future second-round pick. The Spurs would swap Branham, who has fallen out of favor, for Hield’s shooting simply for a second-round pick.
Meanwhile, the Dubs would acquire a center that averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, Thybulle’s elite defense, and an intriguing project in Phillips. The Warriors would need to fill out their roster with some shooting and would not be able to use the TPMLE and stay below the first apron hard cap that the Vučević trade would create.
Still, Taurean Prince and Eric Gordon are both veterans with impressive track records, playoff experience, and markets that will probably force them to look for minimum salaries on a contender.
The Warriors would be extremely limited by their first apron hard cap. Signing older veterans like Gordon and Prince would bring them within $150,000 of the first apron.
Scenario 9: Bulls sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Bulls for Lonzo Ball, POR 2026 1st (Top-14 Protected)
trade Moses Moody, 2026 GS 1st (Top-10 Protected) to Magic for Wendell Carter Jr., Caleb Houstan
sign Trey Lyles using TPMLE (one-year, $5.7 million)
sign Josh Richardson (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Lonzo Ball, Pat Spencer
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, 41st overall
SF: Jimmy Butler, Caleb Houstan, Josh Richardson
PF: Draymond Green, Trey Lyles, Gui Santos
C: Wendell Carter Jr., Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
There are non-Vučević sign-and-trade scenarios that could send Kuminga to the Bulls. Coby White is another obvious one. However, Lonzo Ball is another player that would make a lot of sense in Golden State. His defensive potential and elite passing ability would be easy to fit in Kerr’s system. Moreover, his new deal, which pays him $10 million a year for the next two seasons, would easily fit in the Dubs limited sign-and-trade flexibility.
The Bulls would need to create some cap space to make the deal work, but moving just one of Vučević, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and/or Coby White could be enough to do it.
Chicago could pair Ball with the Blazers 2026 first-round pick, which will not convey unless Portland makes the playoffs. The pick maintains that protection for three more seasons before simply becoming a single second round pick. Given the state of Portland and the Western Conference, it seems likely that the Bulls would only really be parting with a 2028 second-rounder. However, Lacob and Warriors’ brass could use the name of recouping a “first-round pick” to lessen the PR hit of losing Kuminga for a role player.
The Warriors would still need a center and Wendell Carter Jr. remains an excellent fit. Carter is under contract for just $10.85 million in 2025-26 before a two-year extension kicks in that will more than $19 million a year. With Bane in Orlando, the Magic will have some difficult long-term luxury tax decisions and Carter seems like an obvious odd-man out.
Swapping Carter for Moody will pre-emptively cut the Magic payrolls down the line while also continuing to improve their shooting and upgrade over Caleb Houstan, another young 3-and-D wing to their depth chart. Plus, this deal would give them a first-round pick to recoup some capital after sending out so many firsts in the deal for Bane.
Carter is very much a jack of all trades, master of none archetype center, but that’s all the Warriors really need. He’s averaged 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over his career while offering a little outside shooting (career 31.6% from three on 2.3 attempts per game). He’s solid.
Houstan is far from as dynamic as Moody, and is a weaker defender, but has shot 38.5% from three on 253 attempts over the past two seasons. He would offer some cheap wing depth to help the Warriors justify giving up Moody’s long-term upside and a pick for Carter’s relatively limited profile.
With the TPMLE left to play with, the Warriors could go in a lot of directions, but a dynamic shooting four like Trey Lyles to try and emulate the role Otto Porter Jr. played in the 2022 title run should not be ruled out if they can address their other needs via trade.
Josh Richardson appeared in just eight games with the Heat last season before he was included as salary filler in the Jimmy Butler trade and subsequently waived. The season prior, however, he averaged nearly 10 points per game as Butler’s teammate and shot 34.7% from three. If Golden State is looking for a buy-low wing to fill out the back of the bench on a minimum salary, Richardson could make sense.
This offseason would be active, but unexciting for most of the fanbase. The Dubs would be betting on development from Podziemski and Hield’s growing familiarity with Butler and Curry to provide enough improved scoring. With that said, this roster would include a lot of players who are compatable with Kerr’s system.
Scenario 10: Kings Keegan Murray sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings with 2026 GS 1st, 2028 GS 1st for Keegan Murray, Devin Carter, Isaac Jones
sign Luke Kornet using TPMLE (two-years, $11.7 million)
PG: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Devin Carter
SG: Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield
SF: Keegan Murray, Moses Moody
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos, Isaac Jones
C: Luke Kornet, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, 41st overall
The Kings are perhaps the most lost organization in the league right now and their ownership group’s decision-making is largely to blame. Given Sacramento’s obsession with the Warriors, a run at Kuminga cannot be ruled out.
With Keegan Murray heading into the final season of his rookie contract, the Kings may be open to shopping the former fourth overall pick. The pick was originally critiqued for questions about Murray’s lack of ceiling and so far in his career those concerns have remained. Murray had an excellent rookie season but has struggled to take another step forward in his development.
With Murray’s payday on the horizon, could the Warriors entice Sacramento with Kuminga’s upside and a pair of first-round picks? The Kings would need to add some other salary to make the deal work, and the Warriors could offer another boon to Sacramento by taking on Devin Carter’s nearly $5 million salary after an abysmal rookie season.
While Murray’s limitations prevented him from carrying the Kings to glory, he was at his best complimenting a playoff team as a rookie. Murray would immediately slot into the starting lineup and add another dynamic offense alongside Curry. Defensively the Warriors would have some issues with athletic two-guards, who could take advantage of Murray or Butler’s limited athleticism. However, they both would have length and size on their side. Moreover, the Dubs would also still have Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody to deploy in those matchups.
Golden State would be able to focus their TPMLE on a center, and given Murray’s shooting, could target Luke Kornet who seems unlikely to re-sign with the Celtics after earning an expanded role. The true seven-footer is a solid all-around player and defensive anchor. Kornet, Post, and Jackson-Davis would be a complimentary trio of options at center and each one could end up starting 25-30 games.
The Warriors would be hard-capped at the first apron, and would be just under $500,000 below that line heading into the season. Still, they could decline Carter’s third-year option and presumably move his expiring contract to create more room. Granted, they could also think he can develop into a solid backup point guard with time.
Scenario 11: Kings sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Kings with Moses Moody (TPE) for sign-and-trade Keon Ellis (four-years, $60 million, first-year salary $13.9 million), Jonas Valančiūnas
trade Buddy Hield to Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt, 2031 LAL 1st
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Braxton Key (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Pat Spencer, 41st overall
SG: Keon Ellis, Brandin Podziemski
SF: Jimmy Butler, Gary Payton II, Braxton Key
PF: Draymond Green, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gui Santos
C: Jonas Valančiūnas, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
If the Warriors could combine Moses Moody and Buddy Hield as players, they would have an ideal shooting guard to pair with Curry in the backcourt. Kings wing Keon Ellis may be the closest player to that in the NBA. An elite shooter (42.9% career three-point percentage on 501 attempts) and excellent perimeter defender, Ellis is the exact type of role player modern NBA teams covet.
The Kings have a $2.3 million club option for Ellis that seems like a no-brainer. However, exercising the option would prevent them from negotiating an extension with him until next February. They would also be unable to offer him more than four-years, $89 million until he became a free agent. With more teams expected to spend next offseason and Ellis in position for a breakout season, that carries some risk.
Instead, Sacramento could decline Ellis’ option and make him a restricted free agent, like Kuminga. While the Kings would obviously hope to re-sign him, that domino would create some other possible moving pieces. If Sacramento covets Kuminga, the Warriors could quickly shift their attention to a sign-and-trade for Ellis.
A Kings team that is signing Kuminga is doing so with some degree of reset in mind. Veteran center Jonas Valančiūnas would then become easier to part with. Meanwhile, he would give Golden State a proven productive starting center who only has one-year of guaranteed salary left on his contract but a $10 million non-guaranteed salary in 2026-27, giving the Dubs some added long-term flexibility.
The fact is Sacramento is in a position to prioritize youth, upside, and long-term control while the Dubs need to prioritize more immediate contributors given Curry’s age. There’s a case to be made that the Murray and Ellis fit the Warriors better than Kuminga and Moody and that Kuminga and Moody fit the Kings better than Murray and Ellis. By the way, I would not rule out a scenario where Golden State does trade Kuminga, Moody, and a bevy of draft capital for Ellis and Murray.
The Kings would love to retain Ellis, but Moody is years younger and probably has more upside. If the Kings could use Ellis and Valančiūnas to acquire both Moody and Kuminga, under long-term control at reasonable prices, they would have to consider it.
If I were Golden State, I would probably just re-sign Payton, Key, and Spencer and let some preseason competitions play out for the last couple spots on the roster. However, Ellis and Hield do fill very similar roles. While that would be an opportunity to go into the season with shooting as a strength, I could also see that enabling them to listen to offers for Hield and make a move if they are overwhelmed by an offer.
If the Lakers can land their rim-running center in free agency, a wing with Hield’s shooting capabilities would be an excellent pairing with Luka and LeBron. Hield’s addition would also make it easier for the Lakers to part with Austin Reaves in a separate trade. Moreover, Los Angeles would clearly love to unload Vanderbilt’s contract from their books.
If the Lakers were willing to package an unprotected (or heavily-unprotected) 2031 first-round pick to the Warriors for Hield, Golden State might be open to it. Hield is an excellent fit with the Warriors and would almost certainlty not recoup a first-round pick on his own on the trade market. He is going to be 33 before the end of the year and has two more guaranteed seasons after 2025-26. Vanderbilt is extremely limited offensively but remains a 26-year old elite athlete who is dynamic defensively.
Given Green’s age and Payton’s injury history, a supporting player like Vanderbilt could go a long way toward taking some defensive responsibility off the older veterans. It would be far from the first time the Warriors prioritized defense at the expense of offensive firepower, and there’s a case to be made for it.
Warriors fans would be underwhelmed by the lack of starpower and the continued refusal to trade future picks in this scenario. However, replacing Kuminga with Vanderbilt, Moody and Hield with Ellis, and Looney with Valančiūnas would give Kerr a much clearer rotation and sense of roles. They would be left with about $680,000 of space below a first apron hard cap heading into the season.
Scenario 12: Raptors sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Raptors with Moses Moody, GS 2026 1st (lottery protected) for R.J. Barrett, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo
sign Sandro Mamukelashivili (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Kai Jones (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Jamal Shead
SG: R.J. Barrett, Brandin Podziemski
SF: Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield, 41st overall pick
PF: Draymond Green, Jonathan Mogbo, Undrafted free agent
C: Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Sandro Mamukelashivili, Kai Jones
The Raptors have no clear space for Kuminga at the moment, but rumors are swirling that Masai Ujiri is looking to make some big moves this offseason. If Brandon Ingram or Scottie Barnes ends up traded, the Raptors could have space to add a wing, like Kuminga in a sign-and-trade. R.J. Barrett would seem like the best fit for both teams to serve as the centerpiece.
Barrett could immediately become the Warriors starting shooting guard and be the second scorer behind Curry. He quietly averaged 21.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game last season in Toronto in his age-24 season. While Barrett will probably never live up to the sky high expectations that were put on him coming out of high school, there is a real path for him to become a borderline All-Star.
If Lacob is worried about trading Kuminga because he views him as the face of the franchise post-Steph, Barrett is still young enough with enough of a track record to be viewed through the same lens.
The Warriors would have to package at least one of Hield or Moody with Kuminga for Barrett. However, if the Dubs wanted to use their TPMLE in free agency, all three would need to be in the package. Toronto seems unlikely to part with draft capital in this kind of deal, but cheap role players like Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo could be expendable and would give Golden State some cheap bench pieces that would address some actual needs.
The Dubs would still want to address the center position, but limited by the first apron hard cap and Barrett’s $27.7 million salary would give them a very limited avenues if a trade for Hield did not materialize. So, in this scenario, they settle for filling the roster with younger players to stay below the hard-cap, adding Sandro Mamukelashivili as an intriguing stretch big alternative alongside a flier on 2021 first-round pick Kai Jones. The Warriors would head into the season just about $230,000 below a first apron hard cap.
Scenario 13: Grizzlies sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, 2026 GS 1st to Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar
sign Spencer Dinwiddie using TPMLE (one-year, $5.7 million)
sign Paul Reed (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Doug McDermott (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Jae’Sean Tate (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Stanley Umude (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Spencer Dinwiddie, 41st overall
SG: Buddy Hield, John Konchar, Stanley Umude
SF: Jimmy Butler, Doug McDermott, Jae’Sean Tate
PF: Draymond Green, Paul Reed, Gary Payton II
C: Jaren Jackson Jr., Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
I have been surprised to not see more speculation about potential deals between the Warriors and Grizzlies. The two sides agreed to a deal on a Draymond Green sign-and-trade years ago and Memphis continues searching for an impactful small forward.
Yes, I did have a scenario where the Warriors traded for Desmond Bane (it was a player-focused package with a Kuminga sign-and-trade, Moody, Hield, Santos, Jackson-Davis, and GS 2026 1st) that I had to scrap. Still, the Bane deal did not change the Grizzlies need for a young wing they can believe can develop alongside Jaylen Wells. In fact, moving Bane could make Moody or a gamble on Kuminga even better fits.
My belief has been for awhile that the Grizzlies are unwilling to part with Morant because of of his popularity and a depressed market caused by his health and behavior. It sure looked like they fired Taylor Jenkins with an eye toward a Morant future.
Moving Bane could signal a belief in a Morant/Jackson core. However, it’s hard to believe the Grizzlies cannot be overwhelmed by an offer for Jackson, who is a year away from free agency where his new contract will likely have a $45-60 million average annual value. Enter the Warriors, who would solve a lot of their problems with Jackson at center.
Golden State would prefer a picks-heavy package for Jackson, but Memphis would seemingly be in position to target players after acquiring so many draft assets for Bane. Still, the Dubs will be hesitant to include Podziemski, Kuminga, and Moody in any trade, especially for someone who rebounds so poorly for a big man (5.6 per game last season), has an uncertain contract situation, and minor injury concerns.
However, Jackson is as an elite defensive big who has the ability to space the floor and will cost less than $25 million next season. Most teams would be able to add Jackson’s salary and interested in doing so. Despite his flaws Jackson has won a Defensive Player of the Year award, made two All-Star teams, two All-Defense teams, and averaged 22.2 points per game in a season with a 48-win team before his 26th birthday.
Perhaps the Warriors could convince the Grizzlies to make a deal without one of their trio of youngsters in a deal, but even if not, the Warriors have to ask themselves if it’s reasonable to expect Podziemski, Moody, Kuminga, and a free agent big to be more impactful than Jackson and three free agent veterans next season? When you remember that Moody and Kuminga will probably cost $10 million more than Jackson, it becomes easier to understand the trade.
For Memphis, they would add another future first rounder to their arsenal and, more importantly, add some intriguing young talent. The Grizzlies would enter next season with an incredibly young starting lineup of Morant (26), Wells (22), Kuminga (23), Santi Aldama (24), and Zach Edey (23) that has an intriguing combination of size and athleticism with young players like Scottie Pippen Jr., Podziemski, Moody, and their 2025 first-round pick coming off the bench.
John Konchar is an unexciting, but solid, backup shooting guard who could help the Warriors replenish some of their depth in a trade. It would add some complications, since the Warriors would need to send more aggregated salary back to the Grizzlies to avoid a first apron hard cap. Kuminga’s first-year salary would need to be at least $24.2 million to make this deal work without Konchar. It would not be a problem otherwise.
Nevertheless, even with Konchar, Golden State would need to do a lot of work in free agency. Unlikely to find a better starting shooting guard than Hield for the TPMLE, the Dubs would probably want to find a backup point guard who can score, like Spencer Dinwiddie.
Paul Reed is an underrated potential fit with the Warriors. A tenacious defender and rebounding big with a little shooting touch, Reed could fit next to Draymond Green at center or as a power forward alongside shooting centers like Jackson and Quinten Post.
Finding wings to spell Butler will be exceptionally difficult. Re-signing Payton makes sense in this scenario while fliers on players who can provide some shooting (Doug McDermott) and athleticism (Jae’sean Tate and Stanley Umude) would round things out. The Warriors would be $3.6 million below a second-apron hard cap, but would have plenty of salaries to aggregate to consolidate their bench in trades during the season.
Scenario 14: Grizzlies sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Grizzlies in three-team deal
Warriors get: Isaiah Stewart, Simone Fontecchio, John Konchar, ORL 2026 1st
Grizzlies get: Jonathan Kuminga
Pistons get: Brandon Clarke, Moses Moody
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Pat Spencer, 41st overall
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, John Konchar
SF: Jimmy Butler, Simone Fontecchio
PF: Draymond Green, Gary Payton II, Gui Santos
C: Isaiah Stewart, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
If you’re skeptical that the Grizzlies would be open to moving Jackson this offseason, what if all Memphis had to give up was Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, and a future first-round pick? Seems like a low price to pay for a gamble on Kuminga’s upside for a retooling team.
This Kuminga sign-and-trade loops in the Pistons as a third team. As Detroit looks to build on their first postseason appearance in years, young center Isaiah Stewart has become an obvious trade chip. Stewart was moved to the bench this season in favor of Jalen Duren, who is clearly Detroit’s center of the future.
Moody, who played alongside Cade Cunningham in high school, would make a lot of sense in Detroit as a young 3-and-D piece to supplement their core, especially if they could unload Simone Fontecchio’s $8.3 million salary in the process. Meanwhile Brandon Clarke is a slightly cheaper (and older) glue big man to try and replace Stewart.
The Warriors would turn Kuminga and Moody into a bruising starting center (Isaiah Stewart), a pair of solid bench wings (Konchar and Fontecchio), and a future first-round pick. Stewart is undersized but has proved himself more than capable of holding his own on both ends of the floor. He’s also developed into a respectable three-point shooter. Under contract for two more seasons with a third-year club option at $15 million per season would give Golden State excellent long-term stability,
Warriors fans would surely want the team to try packaging some players and their newfound pick for another player, but if the front office was unable to find a deal, they would still be rolling into the season with an upgrade at center and some experienced veteran wings. Both Konchar and Fontecchio saw their roles shrink last season, but advanced numbers have been higher on their contributions over the past couple of seasons. Still, they would ultimately also be $14.5 million in contracts as well.
The Dubs would be hard-capped at the first apron and would have just under $340,000 in space heading into the season.
Scenario 15: Naz Reid Opt-in Ideal
trade Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, 41st overall pick in four-team draft day trade
Warriors get: Naz Reid, Caleb Houstan, 57th pick (from Magic)
Wolves get: Wendell Carter Jr., 36th pick (from Nets), 41st pick (from Warriors)
Magic get: Moses Moody, Buddy Hield
Nets get: Jett Howard, 46th pick (from Magic)
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Heat with GS 2026 1st, GS 2028 1st, right to swap GS 2029 1st for sign-and-trade Davion Mitchell (four-years, $48 million, first-year salary $11.1 million), Haywood Highsmith (TPE), Kel’el Ware (BAE), OKC 2026 2nd
sign Alec Burks using partial TPMLE (one-year, $4 million)
sign Trevelin Queen (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Davion Mitchell
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Alec Burks, Trevelin Queen, 57th overall
SF: Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Caleb Houstan
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos
C: Naz Reid, Kel’el Ware, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
I want to be clear that no scenario is less likely to happen than this one. This is simply a dream scenario for the Warriors. The Dubs have been tied to Reid already, but convincing the Wolves to trade him after he opted into a deal is highly unlikely, even if it would help Golden State a lot. Then getting the Heat to part with both Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware in a Kuminga sign-and-trade might be even less likely.
The Warriors would need to tamper, letting Reid’s representation know that they are prepared to offer him a massive extension, perhaps four-years, $140 million. However, opting in would cap his potential extension far below that amount. He (and the Warriors) would have to be willing to roll the dice on trusting Golden State. James Harden and the Sixers had a falling out when Daryl Morey reneged on a similar arrangement.
Minnesota would like to keep Reid, especially if he opted in, but if it was clear that the ship had sailed, they may be willing to make a deal. Re-enter the Magic, who could offer a cheaper alternative at center in Wendell Carter Jr. to replace Reid. With the Wolves continuing to push into the luxury tax, a pair of early second rounders would also give them two more opportunities to either add players on minimum salaries or target top two-way prospects.
The Magic would be enticed by adding even more wing shooting to their roster and offloading Jett Howard’s contract. Brooklyn on the other hand would get to take a flyer on Howard by only moving down 10 spots with their fifth pick in the draft.
Onto the Heat and Kuminga. Miami has been reportedly interested in Kuminga for some time and reports have already emerged that he is their top fallback option if they fail to acquire Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Warriors should absolutely be hoping for that if they want to move on from Kuminga. The Heat have several pieces that could fit in Golden State.
Haywood Highsmith is the easies player to envision heading to Golden State in a Kuminga sign-and-trade. A hybrid forward who is a career 37.4% three-point shooter, Highsmith is the type of grinder any team loves coming off the bench, but is the most obvious player whose minutes would dwindle if Kuminga landed in Miami. He’s under contract on an expiring deal at $5.6 million.
The two centerpieces the Warriors should covet are Davion Mitchell and Kel’el Ware. Mitchell is an elite defensive point guard who avoids turnovers and has a respectable three-point shot. Mitchell would be among the best potential backup point guards for Curry in the league. Ware, on the other hand, is coming off an excellent rookie season where he showcased his potential as a rim protector and stretch five.
Mitchell is a restricted free agent himself. With so many teams set at point guard around the league, it’s hard to imagine many suitors willing to lock up their nontaxpayer mid-level exception for an offer sheet. So, the Warriors would be well positioned to make a four-year offer worth around $10-$14 million per season.
Of course, the Heat want to build around both of those players as well. Mitchell was acquired via the Jimmy Butler trade and immediately fit in Miami. Meanwhile, the Heat have reportedly refused to send Ware to the Suns for Kevin Durant, seemingly making any move in a Kuminga deal unlikely. However, Phoenix is presumably asking for other pieces from Miami as well. Is there a world where Miami would part with Ware (and possibly Mitchell too) if the Warriors offered Kuminga and a bevy of future first-round picks? Probably not, but the Dubs should be willing to make the offer.
Fillin in the roster around this group would be easy, a reunion with Alec Burks makes sense in many scenarios, especially this one, where the Warriors would be lacking a scoring guard with size.
Scenario 16: Naz Reid Sign-and-trade
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Moses Moody to sign-and-trade for Naz Reid (four-years, $105 million, first-year salary $24.4 million) in four-team deal
Warriors get: Naz Reid, Georges Niang, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson
Wolves get: Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith, MIA 2029 1st (Top-5 protected)
Heat get: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield
Hawks get: Moses Moody, Kevin Love
sign Gary Harris (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Pat Spencer, 41st overall
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Gary Harris, Pelle Larsson
SF: Jimmy Butler, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
PF: Draymond Green, Georges Niang, Gui Santos
C: Naz Reid, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
Here is where things get more realistic. If the Warriors are going to Naz Reid, it’s probably through a sizable free agent offer that turns into a sign-and-trade. Working a Kuminga sign-and-trade into that deal makes things easier for salary matching purposes. However, Minnesota is probably uninterested in Kuminga unless they are planning to move on from Julius Randle. In a scenario where the Wolves are already losing Reid that seems unlikely.
Enter the Heat once again. This time, they would be trading Kyle Anderson, Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kevin Love, Pelle Larsson, and a lightly protected future first-round pick for Kuminga and Hield. While that is a lot of pieces, Kuminga would slot right into Anderson and Highsmith’s minutes while Hield would replace Jaquez and Larsson. Love is simply a salary dump at this point in his career.
From a value perspective, the hardest piece for Miami to part with would be Jaquez, a recent first-round pick who showed promise as a rookie but fell out of favor this past season. It’s hard to imagine him holding up a deal for Kuminga and proven veteran like Hield.
The Wolves would replace Reid with a pair of cheaper role players (Anderson and Highsmith) alongside a future first while the Hawks would capitalize on the Warriors needing to unload some salary by sending stretch big Georges Niang to Golden State for Moody and Love.
Gary Harris has remained a solid three-point shooter, even as the rest of his game has regressed in Orlando. Still only 30, he would make sense as a buy-low veteran alternative to Larrsson as the backup two-guard.
The Warriors would be short on guard and wing depth, but Reid would be the most dynamic offensive big man in Golden State since DeMarcus Cousins. Still only 25, and in the shadow of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert for nearly his entire career, there is also reason to believe he could take another step forward in a different environment.
Niang would be nothing to scoff at either. The veteran power forward is a truly elite three-point shooter. Niang, Reid, and Post would give Kerr three excellent shooters to accomodate Butler and Green’s limited spacing.
The Warriors be just over $600,000 below a first apron hard-cap, and would have serious questions behind Curry, Podziemski, and Butler on the bench. However, Jaquez has flashed the potential to be a great role player in Miami and the Dubs seem high on point guard Taran Armstrong (who will likely be on a two-way contract next season). Most importantly, trading from the frontcourt surplus, especially Niang’s $8.2 million expiring contract, would remain an option.
Scenario 17: Ware Heat sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga to Heat with 2028 GS 1st (Top-5 Protected) for Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith (TPE), Kel’el Ware (BAE)
trade Moses Moody, 2026 GS 1st (top-5 protected) to Bulls for Coby White
sign Lindy Waters IV (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Coby White
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters IV
SF: Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, 41st overall
PF: Draymond Green, Kyle Anderson, Gui Santos
C: Kel’el Ware, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
The question of Miami’. The Heat may be holding off on Ware in part because they are already offering other young players in the trade and/or key veterans like Robinson and Andrew Wiggins who they value highly. If the Warriors were to focus in on Ware as the sole target, could they move the needle?
If the Dubs could use Kuminga and a future first to land Ware, they would have their front court of the future set with both an athletic seven-footer in Ware with some shooting potential and an elite shooting seven-footer in Post who is more limited athletically.
Since Ware is still on a rookie-scale contract, the Heat would need to send back some other salaries to make the deal work. Highsmith and a Warriosr reunion with Anderson would seem the most likely, and also solidify their backup forwards.
The Dubs could be finished their, and use a partial TPMLE to sign a backup point guard, but making an aggressive trade sending Moody (and another future first) to the Bulls for Coby White. White, like Sexton and Poole, is a combo guard who can flat out score. He’s also entering the final season of his contract, which pays him just under $12.9 million per year. The Bulls could get out of an extension discussion by swapping him for Moody and a pick.
With White and Podziemski two combo guards that can spell Curry at point, a reunion with Lindy Waters IV as a end of bench wing would make sense.
Scenario 18: Mitchell Heat sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with 2026 GS 1st (Top-10 Protected) to Heat for sign-and-trade Davion Mitchell (four-years, $48 million, first-year salary $11.1 million), Kevin Love (TPE), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (BAE)
sign Thomas Bryant (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Davion Mitchell
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield,
SF: Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos, 41st overall
C: Thomas Bryant, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kevin Love
While Love’s only value would probably come in veteran leadership, turning Kuminga and a future first rounder into a controllable, dynamic young guard like Mitchell and a promising recent first-round pick like Jaquez Jr. would be a significant return.
The Warriors could hunt for a center with a partial TPMLE (they could only offer one player roughly $5 million) or return to shopping some combo of Hield and Moody now alongside Jaquez and Love in search of a big. However, if a deal does not materialize, Golden State would be in a perfectly reasonable position to sign a big man like Thomas Bryant and head into the season.
The Warriors would have plenty of depth at the 1-3 and should be able to withstand a short absence from either Curry or Butler. While they would be more prone to issues in the frontcourt, Butler could serve as the backup power forward in some rotations, and an in-season trade would remain viable.
Golden State would head into the season just over $1.7 million the team’s first apron hard cap, but would have plenty of tradeable contracts and access to the TPMLE to deploy on the buyout market.
Scenario 19: Pelicans sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Buddy Hield (TE), 2026 GS 1st, 2028 GS 1st to Pelicans in three-team deal
Warriors get: Trey Murphy III
Pelicans get: Jonathan Kuminga, Benedict Mathurin, 2028 GS 1st, UTA 2027 2nd, DAL 2028 2nd
Pacers get: Buddy Hield, 2026 GS 1st
trade Moses Moody to Magic for Goga Bitadze, ORL 2027 2nd
sign Mo Bamba (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Talen Horton-Tucker (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Braxton Key (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Pat Spencer (non-guaranteed one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Pat Spencer
SG: Trey Murphy, Brandin Podziemski, Talen Horton-Tucker
SF: Jimmy Butler, Braxton Key
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos, 41st overall
C: Goga Bitadze, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
No one seems to know what the Pelicans’ new front office plans to do with their roster. However, Troy Weaver’s tenure in Detroit was defined by targeting length and athleticisim, even from players with questions about their precision and skills. In other words, a profile that Kuminga fits to a T.
If the Pelicans are looking to reset, which would sure seem advisable given their status in the Western Conference, shopping Trey Murphy III after a breakout season would make a lot of sense. If New Orleans is interested in Kuminga, a sign-and-trade package of Kuminga and Moody packaged with some first-round picks would be hard to beat.
Murphy is an elite shooting wing who would pair perfectly in Golden State between Curry and Butler. At 25, and under contract for four more years with a $28 million average annual value, he’s also an excellent fit in the salary cap.
Still, the Warriors could be motivated to try and find a third-team to involve in the deal. Enter the Pacers, who may be interested in selling high on Benedict Mathurin after the team’s trip to the NBA Finals. While Mathurin is young, he is already extension eligible, which will create complications for Indiana long-term.
The opportunity for the Pacers to replace Mathurin with an elite shooter like Hield who would fit into their system, and is under team control for two more years at a reasonable price, and add a future first-round pick could move the needle. If it did, the Pelicans would land two youngsters who are already impressive scorers and a future first.
In this scenario, the Warriors would save Moody to swap to the Magic for Goga Bitadze, a solid, but plodding seven-footer. With Murphy’s floor spacing in town, Golden State would be able to withstand adding a limited center like Bitadze to the mix, lessening Green’s workload.
The Warriors would be hard-capped at the first apron, preventing them from using the TPMLE. However, with their primary needs filled, they could target minimum salary veterans like Mo Bamba and Talen Horton-Tucker to fill out the depth chart.
Scenario 20: Pelicans sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Buddy Hield (TE), GS 2026 1st (Lottery Protected) to Pelicans for sign-and-trade Bruce Brown (four-years, $44 million, fourth-year team option, first-year salary $10.25 million), Kelly Olynyk, Brandon Boston
sign Seth Curry (one-year, minimum salary)
re-sign Gary Payton II (one-year, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, 41st overall
SG: Bruce Brown, Seth Curry, Brandon Boston
SF: Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos, Gary Payton II
C: Kelly Olynyk, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis
The Warriors would ideally be able to pry Murphy from New Orleans, but if the Pelicans view him as a part of their future, there is still a path for a Kuminga sign-and-trade. Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown are two excellent role players that would significantly strengthen Golden State’s depth.
Olynyk is an excellent floor-spacing center who can pass, an ideal short-term starter and long-term mentor for Post. Brown, on the other hand, has been a starting wing on a championship team and remains a well-rounded two-way player.
Brown is a free agent, and like Hield and Anderson last offseason, the Warriors will probably only be able to sign him through a sign-and-trade. The Warriors could use Hield’s salary to offset adding Brown alongside Olynyk in a deal, however, if they viewed Brown’s stronger all-around skillset as preferable.
I would also have my eye on Brandon Boston, trying to get him added to a deal, if I were the Warriors. The Pelicans will likely exercise Boston’s minimum salary option for next season and he’s consistently been a solid shooter since entering the league. If New Orleans tries to leverage the Warriors’ lack of options for Kuminga for a first-round pick, Boston could be used as a final sweetner.
The Warriors would be hard capped at the first apron by acquiring a player in a sign-and-trade for the second consecutive year, but would be able to fill out their roster with experienced veteran minimums. If Hield is traded, eyeing Seth Curry to bring some elite shooting off the bench (and a union between the Curry Brothers to market) would make a lot of sense.
While neither Olynyk nor Brown are All-Stars, they would length Golden State’s lineup significantly. A starting lineup of Curry, Brown, Butler, Green, and Olynyk would seem to bring several complimentary pieces together and lengthen the Warriors bench by ensuring Podziemski, Moody, and Post can develop as rotational pieces.
Scenario 21: Wizards sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga
sign-and-trade Jonathan Kuminga with Gui Santos to Wizards for Corey Kispert, Saddiq Bey
trade Moses Moody, 2028 GS 1st to Hornets for Mark Williams
sign Malcolm Brogdon using TPMLE (one-year, $5.7 million with player option)
re-sign Kevon Looney (one-year, minimum salary)
sign Taran Armstrong (non-guaranteed two-years, minimum salary)
PG: Steph Curry, Malcolm Brogdon, Taran Armstrong
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield
SF: Jimmy Butler, Corey Kispert, 41st overall
PF: Draymond Green, Saddiq Bey
C: Mark Williams, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kevon Looney
The Wizards remain in search of elite talent, but does seem to finally be moving in the right direction after trading Kyle Kuzma. Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr found their footing by the end of their rookie season, and Jordan Poole has remains a solid secondary piece. Still, Washington clearly could use some upside along their wings. Why not take a shot at Kuminga?
The Wizards have two players the Warriors should covet for their shooting: Corey Kispert and Saddiq Bey. Both Bey and Kispert have lived up to their mid first-round pick billing as outside threats with limited impactful skills elsewhere in their games. Bey is coming off a season-ending injury, but is also on an exceedingly reasonable $6.1 million deal.
With Bey and Kispert’s upside limited, Washington should jump at the opportunity to turn them into Kuminga’s upside and Gui Santos (who would be necesary salary filler).
I return to the Mark Williams trade in this scenario, with Golden State parting with a 2028 first-round pick alongside Moody this time.
Malcolm Brogdon’s injury history and age could leave him looking for a contender this offseason on the TPMLE. Brogdon’s size and versatile skillset would seem to be a great fit as the third guard behind Curry and Podziemski.
With that, the Warriors would enter the season $1 million below a first apron hard cap. They would arguably be the deepest shooting roster in team history.