New Trade Suitor Emerges for Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga: Report

The Dallas Mavericks have reportedly emerged as a new suitor for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, opening up a plethora of potential Warriors trade possibilities ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.

Per The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Mavericks recently reached out to the Bay Area franchise about a deal involving Kuminga and Anthony Davis, only to be turned down due to the Warriors’ reluctance to trade either Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green.

“While a league source said the Mavericks do have interest in the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, who can’t be traded until Jan. 15 but is widely expected to be dealt before the deadline, the fifth-year forward’s salary ($22.5 million) comes well short of Davis’ ($54.1 million),” Amick reported on Dec. 31.

“It would thus require the inclusion of another big contract — i.e., Green ($25.8 million). Yet as Warriors coach Steve Kerr said publicly last week, and team sources confirmed, a move like that is not in their plans.”

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Warriors Unwilling to Move Vets

Amick’s report added that the Warriors are also not keen on a potential swap between Davis and Butler, even if such a move helps them part with the disgruntled Kuminga.

“A Butler-for-Davis swap works financially, but Golden State has shown no interest in making such a move,” he wrote. “While team sources say the Warriors have not entirely closed the door on a Davis deal, it appears unlikely.”

“Team sources say they’re staunchly against the notion of trading either Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, which creates quite a predicament when you’re trying to match salaries of high-level players.”

Even if a trade for Davis ($54.1M) doesn’t materialize, the Warriors could potentially use the Jonathan Kuminga trade chip to target certain other Mavericks players.

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Warriors Trade Target: Gafford

As has been widely reported, the Warriors have been aggressively pursuing athletic bigs, with the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford, Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton and Portland Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams on their shortlist.

“The Warriors are buyers. I was told they are looking for size and athleticism,” NBA insider Chris Haynes said “NBA on Prime” telecast on Dec. 19. “I was told they are really serious. They are trying to do everything they can to get this team back to a championship-contender level.”

Subsequently, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that the Warriors have ” one of the more aggressive teams” since the NBA’s trade season unofficially began on Dec. 15, when 90% of the league’s players became trade-eligible.

If the Mavericks’ reported interest in a Kuminga trade persists, the Warriors may have a path to landing Gafford, who is signed on a budget-friendly deal through 2028-29. In fact, the Warriors may not have to include additional pieces to Kuminga’s two-year, $46.8Mdeal, which a Team Option for 2026-7.

It’s worth noting that P.J. Washington is another Mavs player previously linked to the Warriors as a potential target. Perhaps the Warriors could make roster upgrades using the Kuminga trade piece, even if it doesn’t fetch them a 10-time All-Star like Davis.

Kuminga can’t be traded before Jan. 15. Besides Dallas, teams such as the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers reportedly have interest in him.

Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan