The Kings are still in pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga according to several recent reports, but their pursuit is for naught if they can’t get the Golden State Warriors to play ball, and so far there doesn’t seem to be a resolution in sight.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, the Kings and Phoenix Suns have both made offers to Kuminga in the 4 year, $90 million range with a player option, while the Warriors have only offered a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option. In addition the Warriors are asking Kuminga to waive the implicit no-trade clause he would have under those contract terms. Kuminga has reportedly rejected that offer, and according to Marc Spears, prefers to go to Sacramento where he has been offered a starting spot.
But wanting to go somewhere and actually being able to is tough in restricted free agency, especially since the Kings don’t have the cap room to make an actual offer upfront and force Golden State’s hand. Sacramento’s only way of acquiring Kuminga would have to be through a sign-and-trade and so far the Warriors have balked at all offers. We’ve heard previous reports that the Kings had offered Devin Carter, Malik Monk and multiple seconds, and now Charania reports that the Kings are actually willing to include a conditional first-rounder, but the Warriors are asking for an unprotected pick instead.
Per ESPN’s reporting, the Warriors believe they could give Kuminga the raise he seeks while still being able to trade him somewhere else if he so desires, and a two year deal with a team option allows that team to decline the option and extend him, giving him the raise he seeks. Kuminga on the other hand doesn’t like the amount of control that gives both the Warriors and any other team that might trade for him, and is reportedly considering taking the Qualifying Offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. Of course, that would still mean Kuminga wouldn’t be on his way to Sacramento, although they could still pursue him next summer where the Warriors might be more willing to entertain a sign-and-trade given his unrestricted status.
The Warriors don’t seem particularly interested in any offer, and I’m not sure the Kings should be looking to increase their offer that much more than what they already have. For their part, at least the Kings aren’t including Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis in the conversation according to the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson. But Kuminga has until October 1st to decide on whether or not he wants to take the Qualifying Offer or take a Warriors offer, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this situation drag out further.
I’d love to get some clarity on who’s starting spot Kuminga has been offered on the Kings.
I did read somewhere that Kuminga wants to play for the Democratic Republic of the Congo this summer. It mentioned that there is a very good chance he’d have a deal in place before the middle of August since he likely won’t play for the national team until a deal is inked. He’s not about to injure himself this summer and hurt his chances of a lucrative deal.
That’s my question, too. Does he start over DDR or Keegan? Does Perry have a deal in the works in case this Kuminga thing happens?
So many questions about this entire situation.
In my mind, if Perry has a deal to move DDR (whom I assume Kuminga would be replacing) that deal could happen regardless of Kuminga. Maybe the trade of DDR doesn’t have a wing in return and Perry doesn’t want to put the cart before the horse? I can understand that.
Keegan and Keon are considered “untouchable” in trade talks, and the money doesn’t work without shedding salary. This seems to suggest that it’s DDR’s starting spot that has been promised.
Imagine a world where your two “untouchable” players wouldn’t even start for other teams lmao
This seems like the most likely scenario.
Over DeRo for sure, he should be on the first flight out. He can go wreck some other team’s offense and play mediocre D there, lol.
Yeah, it’s not really even a conversation, imo. One guy is 35, the other is 22. Obviously Kuminga is a flawed player, but he’s young with so much ahead of him, so defaulting to him and hoping that making him a core part of your present and future is a no-brainer to me.
Spears reported that the Kings offered a starting spot at power forward next to Sabonis and Keegan.
That’s a good thing. Means either DeRozan will be traded or coming off the bench as the 6th man.
I don’t see why he and Keegan can’t play either forward position, and just let the matchups dictate what’s best at any given moment.
I totally agree, much like Denver had with Gordon and Porter Jr, and now Johnson, but that means removing DDR from the scenario, which is what I would like to see happen.
They would, but for stat keeping purposes there are positions listed in lineups.
Leverage season.
How often has a player left the Warriors and played better with the subsequent team?
Why have no teams from the wide open Eastern conference made an offer?
I would pass on Kuminga.
Harrison Barnes?
Oh how I miss ye, Black Falcon
I’m not sure that reliance on the judgment of fifteen teams, the majority of which would be underwater in the Western, is a salient metric in determining the value of Jonathan Kuminga or anyone else.
Two play in teams duking it out
If the agents say so.
I say this as a Kings fan, but why would Kuminga even want to come here? Just the opportunity to chuck a lot of shots? The Kings are an old, low-ceiling team with very little young talent and who keep trying to be just good enough not to acquire any. Kuminga has little hope of even getting the playoffs here any time soon. Maybe the money?
Yeah, I think it’s a situation where he knows he can come in, get paid, start, and get his shots up. All while playing for an ownership and management that doesn’t place any emphasis on trying to make the postseason.
The Kyle Kuzma Special
I was thinking the same thing he’s gonna come here and be a high usage chucker like Kyle Kuzma
Why trade for the real Kyle Kuzma when you can trade for the much younger, and hopefully more room for growth, version of Kyle Kuzma. I guess there is an argument to be made there.
This is a bit cynical and it also downplays the amount of confidence and probability-denying thinking required to be a star NBA player. I am not saying Kuminga is a star, but he believes he will be and has the self-confidence to believe that anywhere he is able to heavily contribute will have a shot to compete. Right or wrong in his belief, that is what it often takes to get the most of oneself. Unwavering (and oft-times unearned) confidence. I’d also say Marvin Bagley begin his NBA career with this mindset so its no sure thing just because one believes, you have also have to have the talent and drive.
The opportunity to be one of, if not the main offensive focal points is the draw here. I imagine Perry pitched the idea of a future starting W/F core of Ellis, Murray, and JK with the team’s new philosophy of hard-working, two-way players who run the court with pace with a lot of highly-efficient shots to go around. For Kuminga, it might be the quickest path to true NBA relevance.
I think the biggest reason JK couldn’t get off the bench was his D or lack there of. Not sure how we can expect that to change.
Please no, I don’t see where he fits this team. He’s a good player and the price is right but this is another DDR situation where the Kings are pursuing a “big name” player that won’t improve the team significantly. Unless there is another trade or two before the start of the season, Kuminga has no business being on this team.
I’d imagine the hope for Kuminga, being just 22, is that he has a Aaron Gordon/Pascal Siakam type career arc. Neither of those dudes were good shooters when they joined the league, but they could get a bucket.
I was thinking the other (scary, I know) that Keegan was the “Aaron Gordon” type of player on the roster. Not a star, but does all the other stuff to compliment star type of players. Problem is, the Kings don’t have that star player to compliment. Maybe Kuminga could be that guy? Have the Warriors tried to pigeon hole him to a role that doesn’t suit his style? Could he flourish in a system where he is allowed to be “the guy” and not just try to fit in with Curry, Green, Butler/Klay?
Keegan is a shooting wing whereas Gordon is a physical forward. I’d say Kuminga parallels Gordon more closely (though I wouldn’t say Kuminga will become Gordon)
I’m probably gonna catch heck from this but it’s just an opinion, so here goes:
Include Ellis in the deal, maybe get a pick from Golden State along with anything else they can get from them. I don’t think Ellis is great or exceptionally special. I appreciate his defensive skills but his offense/playmaking is just ok. Is Clifford better? I think he could be and has more potential on both ends at SG, 6’6”. Yes the Kings desperately need a PF, Kuminga might come into his own at his next stop and I’d love for that to be for the Kings. Who else could the Kings get for a PF?
Ellis is one of like 2-3 guys on the entire roster that plays both ends of the floor. There is no reason that there is an either/or dynamic between Keon and Clifford. They both can play with or without each other. You need more of those guys.
Kuminga can also play both ends and switch defensively, but you’re not gaining anything if you swap one for the other. The trade only makes sense if we’re moving salary, draft capital, and a questionable young prospect like Carter. If you put Keon in there, you’re solving all the Warriors problems for them – youth, defense, and a cheap contract. They have a tough decision on their hands with Kuminga, don’t let them out of it because you got antsy for a deal.
Agreed. Adding Kuminga to Keegan, Clifford, Keon and Sabonis would be better. It’s DDR and, to a lesser extent, LaVine that throw things off.
DS, LaVine, Keegan, Kuminga, Domas would be more interesting than having DDR in that group.
A bench of Monk, Ellis, Clifford, IJ, Maxime would be fun to watch incorporated with the starters. We are talking about a low-bar for the Kangz, per usual.
Either way, they need to add young talent with some upside/higher ceiling to get moving in a positive direction. These older players that aren’t game changers is just not good for the team when it comes to building a sustainable winning franchise.
I see what you mean. I’ve read an article saying Ellis and Murray are off limits to be included in the trade. If Golden State wanted one or the other, I’d be willing to part with Ellis before Murray. If that is the deal breaker, I would do it for Kumingas up side. And honestly, I am ready for a shake up, Kings need something to happen positive for once in a long while. Blowing it up isn’t likely, so hopefully they can do something to show productive progress. It just sucks to see the same crap show every year
It would be so Kangz if we decline to include Ellis, fail to re-sign him and see him leave for the Warriors next season.
Ellis, who takes most of his shots from beyond the arc, managed to have the best effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage of anyone on the team who played a lot of minutes. It may not be “special” but it’s also quite obviously not nothing.
The defense speaks for itself in the numbers, and the eye test consistently confirms that the team plays better when he’s in because he makes things happen.
If there’s an issue with his offense it’s that he doesn’t take enough shots. A decent chance that upping his shots per game would impact his percentages, but if he goes from four threes a game to six or seven and his accuracy drops from 43.3% to forty? That’s the opposite of a problem.
As the roster stands, only a handful of guys are going to eat up most of the FGA, and Kuminga would certainly be in that group. I would only include Ellis in a trade if Kuminga came with a first-rounder as part of the deal. The two of them are young, talented guys, and neither has had a true opportunity to show what kind of NBA player that they are capable of becoming.
A young core of Keegan/Kuminga/Keon,
K/K/K(nope!) is really something that can be built around. Sabonis could do well there, and a competent point like Schroder (or whomever comes next) could generate a ton of offense.I think Sacramento’s offer is fair and leaves room for a little sweetening if necessary, but nothing to the degree of an unprotected first-rounder. Golden State has a problem while JK is on their roster, and it isn’t the Kings’ place to make it a smooth fix.
Well said Sims. I’ll only add that Keon at $2.3M is far more valuable than Kuminga at $20+M. There is a reason the Dubs want either Keon or Keegan in the deal. They know either of them, on their contracts, are far more valuable and effective in today’s NBA than Kuminga at anything over $10M per year.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating in saying that if Perry had Keon or Keegan on the table for Kuminga, the deal would have been done weeks ago. Either would start and get heavy minutes on that Dubs team, whereas Kuminga can’t get off their bench.
The NBA is coming around to the idea that true two-way players are worth far more than they used to be. Keon and Keegan are starter quality players who could plug and play on every team in the NBA.
Summer is one of the best times for a silly name thread (is there a bad time?)
Ke/Ku/Ke or Keumineon, or just plain 3K
As for usage: we just saw OKC crowned the champs with the very strong influence of Alex Caruso and Lu Dort. Keon Ellis is in the same mold. SkinnyLu Dort? Keon Caruso?
Glue-sniffing Dort.
That would more formally changed to Gluguentz (“Lu”) Dort
This is the problem.
I want Kuminga on the Kings just for his revenge games against Golden State.
That’d be awesome.
As a long time Sacramento Kings fan, having seen much too much for far too long:
“I wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have me as a member”― Groucho Marx
This quote comes to mind. Kuminga wants to come to the Kings? What’s wrong with him?
Maybe he has a palatial estate in…uhhh..Vacaville and he doesn’t want to move.
well…. since that involves the Vaca… I am going to cry “Bullspit!”
I was thinking the same thing.
Yeah, with any player that wants to come to the Kings I question their motive and/or mental state. As others here have said I think Kuminga is looking for the opportunity to chuck up loads of shots without having to get yelled at by Kerr.
I know we get pretty Kangzy around here with well deserved pessimism thanks to the shit show product this franchise regularly puts on the floor, but if we are going to start questioning a player’s motive or mental state for wanting to come to Sac to start fresh and prove himself, they we might as well just give up now as fans.
From reports, Kuminga met with Christie and Perry where their vision was laid out. Kuminga liked it and has let it be known that the Kings have his attention. I’m gonna go with that. If he comes, he gets paid and an opportunity to play. I would assume that’s all any player wants.
In all honesty, I think I’ll be spending a good deal of time this season contemplating whether to move on from the NBA. I don’t think I can choose to follow another team – this one has been too close to my heart for too long – so I’d just choose to leave my NBA fandom altogether. If I could do it with the NFL and MLB, which I very successfully have, I can probably do it with the NBA too (I think). The thought of a billionaire owner who egregiously stiffs the fans just really turns me off. There’s so much more to do in life than get repeatedly frustrated by a sports team.
“No one ever leaves Twitter.”
Objectively, are there compelling reasons NOT to question a player’s motive for wanting to come to Sacramento?
Also, objectively, are there compelling reasons to not give up as fans now?
We’re fans, so we’re not rational, but let’s be real.
Objectively, I’d say that you’ve gone over the line here, but fortunately that line is entirely yours. I suppose what you do next will go a long way in defining your integrity.
What line would that be?
And if we’re talking integrity, hasn’t this ownership crossed that line if it is in serious doubt whether they even have the intention of building a winning team?
This ownership is severely lacking in integrity. Money is what drives Vivek, and informs every administrative decision he makes. He doesn’t give two shits about the fan experience. He has no line to cross because he doesn’t have the moral scruples to even draw one.
The line is the one between rational objectivity and reflexive fatalism about anything that relates to the Sacramento Kings.
Now, the organization certainly has a poor track record, but you’ve broadened the scope to include players who are willing to play here. If Kuminga is signed, he’d have a real opportunity to grow into the type of player that approaches his vast potential. That has been his main complaint with the Warriors, and I don’t see it as wholly unfounded. Whatever type of player Kuminga is to become isn’t going to happen under Steve Kerr.
I make no predictions about how such an experiment might work out. A lot depends on him, but as much depends on the organization and the players and coaches Kuminga and his teammates would be working with. There’s no shame in betting the under on how things turn out.
But the man has stated that he’d like to play here. I’m not trying to sign every guy who claims fondness for Sacramento, but Kuminga is a young, talented player at a position of need, and to look at those facts and assume that there must be something broken about Kuminga to want to play here is silly and assumes facts not in evidence.
This is not me defending the organization. For you to suggest that this, and maybe any move related to the Kings is de facto defective and bound for failure? That’s a line that separates cogent analysis from hurt feelings, and I’ve read enough of your stuff to know that this is below your usual standard. If that’s really how you feel, you are certainly entitled to that, but it sails far past earned Kings pessimism and into a peculiar type of chosen masochism.
There are any number of websites that I don’t visit because I know that what’s there, even assuming that it’s informative, is going to irritate me. The tradeoff isn’t worth it.
Plenty of organizations are run by loathsome people, and other than keeping one eye on them at a safe distance, they aren’t part of my day-to-day, and I certainly don’t invest time or emotional energy into them. I know who they are, and I improve my life by not having anything to do with them.
I myself am a born pessimist (read realist), and the Sacramento Kings have a long track record of giving their fans reasons to be pessimistic. To feel that way is perfectly rational. The descent into fatalism is your choice to make, but giving energy to it doesn’t make sense to me.
But I can be obtuse on occasion.
Kuminga wants big money ( 100 million ) and guaranteed starting spot . Any team is OK for he and agent . Red flags to me .
Kuzma 2.0
But wouldn’t any player want $100M and a starting spot? Is it a character flaw for the guy to want more?
Is it better to get that chance as a rookie on a bad team, learn that you can’t be the #1 on a contending team and then go to another team as a #3 ala Gordon?
Or be a supporting piece on a title winner and then leave to try to show that you can be the #1 ala Kuzma?
I’m afraid if Kuminga doesn’t turn out to be a viable #1 in Sac, he’ll put it all together on team 3, if ever.
If he ends up here, will be a big test for Doug to get him to buy in on both ends of the floor.
Your guess is as good as mine, but my gut says he’s something in between Gordon and Kuzma. I’ll also add, that Kuminga is NOT coming here to be #1, kind of like Kuzma was in Washington. There are two legitimate stars ahead of him in Sabonis and LaVine (assuming DDR is sent out). Kuminga wouldn’t be given the keys to the kingdom the moment he arrives. He will, however, be given the minuets and opportunity to prove himself.
I think expecting Kuminga to be the best player on your roster is unrealistic, and I don’t mean that as a dig at JK. He isn’t a finished product by any definition.
Kuminga may very well have the talent to be a #1 option, but I’m nearly certain that he can be an important part of a team’s so-called big three.
The Kuzma comparisons aren’t really accurate from my point of view. Kuminga is in a lousy position with the Warriors, and because he’s been vocal about it, he’s labeled a problem child. Put him in a position to grow and succeed without worrying about getting yanked for every perceived mistake? You might have a very special player on what becomes a bargain contract at $20-$25 million per year.
He’s exactly the type of player that the Kings should be willing to take a risk on.
“Man wants to play basketball and make a lot of money.”
What a fucking headcase.
The warriors are being stupid. If in fact the Kings are offering Monk in the deal they are crazy not to take that. You have a guy that doesn’t want to be on your team and that you don’t want on your team. Carter, and Monk plus 2nds if a far more favorable offer to the Warriors than what was reported 2 weeks ago. It’s a joke the Warriors are demanding Spock or Ellis. Get The F out of here with that garbage.
Yeah, this is apparently the current offer. I’m not sure how that works for the Warriors though. From what I understand, and I could be totally wrong on this, but the Warriors can only take back half the salary they send out in a Kuminga deal. So does that mean the Kings are offering Kuminga $36M the first year since Monk makes $18M?
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