Among restricted free agents, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is one of the biggest names remaining. The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reports that the Milwaukee Bucks are circling within his pool of suitors; if he leaves Golden State, it will most be likely be via sign-and-trade. Both team and player would benefit from a fresh start. For the Bucks, though, pursuing Kuminga would be a massive mistake if its requires giving up anything of future value.
Jonathan Kuminga Has Promise But Lack of Shooting Makes Him Poor Fit
In his fourth NBA season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds. He shot 45.4% from the field, a substantial dropoff from his prior percentages, and just 30.5% from distance. The 6-foot-7 forward reportedly wants over $30 million per year on his next contract, an exorbitant sum for a player unproven as he is, coming off his most inefficient season.
Because Kuminga is a restricted free agent, the Warriors can match any offers. Understandably, though, they don’t want to pay him what his heart desires – his skillset doesn’t match their roster, anyway – but they also don’t want to let him walk for nothing. A sign-and-trade thus becomes the most probable method of exit if the two sides do indeed part ways.
Any deal the Bucks made would have to involve Kyle Kuzma. He is the only player with appropriate salary that Milwaukee could reasonably sacrifice. He isn’t any better a shooter than Kuminga is, however, and he is also seven years older. Golden State would be delusional to accept a Kuzma-based swap. Almost certainly, a third team would have to be involved.
Say that team was able to send the Warriors more desirable players. The Bucks would still have to give up more than just Kuzma, attaching young talent and/or draft assets. Kuminga is undeniably a better player, with a lot more potential, but mortgaging the future to acquire him would be extremely ill-advised – for multiple reasons.
Kuminga Could Quickly Become Albatross on Milwaukee Bucks’ Payroll
First, as is the case for Golden State, Kuminga’s own mediocre shooting isn’t a good fit for Milwaukee’s roster. Playing a non-shooter alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo is not a recipe for success. The Bucks would have to find a way to minimize their time on the court together, not exactly the result that acquiring a better player is supposed to have.
Over 600 career attempts, Kuminga has shot 33.2% on threes. Just 22, he could certainly develop that area of his game, but it’s also possible that he simply isn’t a good shooter. That isn’t the kind of player the Bucks should be pairing long-term with Giannis. Yes, they need a supplementary scorer, but not one in Kuminga’s mold.
From that perspective, his high-volume production becomes a negative, rather than a positive factor. Milwaukee should not want Kuminga, who is not only inefficient but not much of a facilitator, taking the ball out of Antetokounmpo’s hands. They shouldn’t want him taking shots that could be delegated to better marksmen – AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Myles Turner, Taurean Prince. Just about anyone on the roster.
Finally, even if Kuminga doesn’t get the full amount he wants, his contract will involve considerable money over multiple seasons, probably longer than the two years left on Kuzma’s deal. As hated as he is, the Bucks would be better off just keeping Kuzma until he hits free agency. The Bucks just signed Myles Turner for $107 million, will carry Damian Lillard’s $22M dead cap hit through 2029-30, and face Giannis extension talks next summer. Kuminga’s salary is the last thing they need on the books
Sure, a plain Kuzma-for-Kuminga swap would be fine, but the Warriors wouldn’t agree to that, nor should they. The Bucks already gave up their 2031 and 2032 second-rounders in the Pat Connaughton trade that helped clear cap space for Turner. In any Kuminga discussions, Milwaukee shouldn’t even entertain sacrificing first-round picks, first-round pick swaps, or promising young players.
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