The year is now 2026, and Jonathan Kuminga-Golden State Warriors trade rumors persist. Could a Kuminga deal materialize by the Feb. 5 deadline and put us all out of our misery? If it does finally happen, don't count out the Portland Trail Blazers as a potential landing spot.
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor recently reported that the Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Washington Wizards have now joined the Dallas Mavericks as teams linked to Kuminga.
"Hypothetically, Portland has Jerami Grant or Jrue Holiday to realistically offer in a trade. The Warriors are already small enough as is because Kerr has leaned heavily into three-guard and four-guard lineups, so Holiday should probably be avoided by general manager Mike Dunleavy. But Grant makes sense. At age 31, Grant is the odd man out for a young Portland team, but he can still offer versatile defense, reliable 3-point shooting and some shot creation," O'Connor writes.
Blazers should trade Jerami Grant to take a swing on Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State is likely going to explore bigger fish out on the market, but Grant actually wouldn't be a bad consolation prize for them with the way he's been playing this season. At 31, he's a much better fit for the Warriors' timeline alongside aging stars Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green than he is on an up-and-coming Blazers roster.
For Portland, this deal would be an immediate downgrade in production. Kuminga has fallen out of Steve Kerr's rotation, which should be a significant red flag for any team considering sacrificing valuable assets.
Still, there's admittedly upside here. Kuminga is just 23 years old and a former No. 7 overall pick in 2021.
The contract situation would be a major headache for Portland to take on, but he also has a $24.3 million team option for next season. The Blazers could use the remainder of this season as an audition for the polarizing wing, then determine whether they believe he actually fits what they are trying to build with their young core. Worst-case scenario, the Kuminga experiment doesn't pan out, and they simply let him walk in free agency, shedding Grant's massive contract in the process.
But if the Blazers do acquire Kuminga, there's reason to believe they'd be able to make it work. General manager Joe Cronin has constructed a team built around length and athleticism, and Kuminga would fit right in. He'd fill Grant's sixth-man role and potentially thrive being relied on as a primary offensive initiator with the second unit.
Something tells me we have yet to see Kuminga's best basketball. And while the risk would be too much to take on if it includes draft capital, simply getting off Grant could make this experiment worthwhile for Portland.
The Blazers have a history of adding to their young core through trade, including Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. Could Kuminga be the next wing they bring into the equation?
We won't know until Jan. 15 by the earliest, when the Warriors' young forward is eligible to be traded.