Warriors Get Good News on Potential Jonathan Kuminga Trade
Fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga may be categorized as a disgruntled asset by some, given his rocky relationship with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and his inability to maintain a starting role.
However, it appears teams around the league value Kuminga a lot. According to insider Marc Stein, Kuminga is “one of the best trade chips in the league” due to his
“He’s not even eligible to be moved until Jan. 15, but it’s no secret that the Warriors’ hardball stance all summer with Kuminga in the sides’ restricted free agency saga was adopted with the intention to ensure that the 23-year-old was re-signed to a tradeable contract. ‘It’s one of the best trade chips in the league,’” Stein reported.
A Test Run With Kuminga?
As noted by Stein, the Warriors will reportedly explore moving Kuminga the minute he becomes trade-eligible on January 15, 2026. Since there’s a club option on his second year, the team that acquires him could essentially experiment with him in the second half of the 2025-26 season and cut ties if things don’t work out in the 2026 summer.
Furthermore, the Warriors may not have the leverage to demand much for the Congolese forward due to their strained relationship with him. As such, a team that truly values Kuminga could acquire him for cheap and give him a four-month test run.
Kuminga Feels Like ‘A Scapegoat’
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Kuminga already feels scapegoated for the Warriors’ paltry 9-8 start to the season. While injuries, including Kuminga’s knee issue, have contributed to the mediocre record, many analysts have blamed Kuminga’s and Brandin Podziemski’s lack of production for Golden State’s woes.
“He feels like the scapegoat again,” one team source told Slater.
The report added that Jimmy Butler III has taken it upon himself to mend the relationship between Kuminga and the Warriors, and feels like the fifth-year forward can find his niche on the team — despite his publicized issues with Kerr.
“I realize that he listens to me,” Butler said. “He respects me. And I don’t ever take that for granted. But I’m always going to tell him the truth, too. And when JK doing some
Butler, who took several years to hit his stride in the NBA, advised Kuminga to remain patient and hone his craft, rather than play the blame game.
“I think everybody comes to that steppingstone moment in their career where you know that you can get over that hump,” Butler said of Kuminga.
“Some people are like, ‘Nah, you’re not ready for that yet.’ But you know better. I think that’s where he is. I was at that point.”
Jonathan Kuminga began the 2025-26 season in red-hot form, averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists through his first six games, while shooting 45% from three. Those numbers drastically dipped over his next seven games, with Kuminga averaging 10.6 points on 17.6% from three. He has played only 13 games with a knee injury.
Leon Draisaitl passes Oilers legend in Lightning clash
The Edmonton Oilers still can’t find their way out of a rut in what has been an ugly road trip so far for the reigning Western Conference champions. But there’s a consolation for Edmonton star
“Leon Draisaitl collects his 570th career assist, passing Jari Kurri for sole possession of 4th on the Oilers all-time list,” Sportsnet Stats shared via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.
Draisaitl assisted on Trent Frederic’s goal in the first period that put the Oilers ahead early. It was Draisaitl’s 13th assist in the 2025-26 NHL season, while it was the second time Frederic had found the back of the net in the campaign.
As it turned out, it was the only highlight of the night for the Oilers’ offense, as Edmonton never lit the lamp the rest of the way. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, tied the score at 1-1 in the third period with a goal from Nick Paul before Jake Guentzel ended the contest with a game-winning score in overtime.
Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard picked up the loss as well, despite what was an otherwise solid performance in front of the net. He turned away 33 of 35 shots on goal by the Lightning, who improved to 11-7-2.
It is not about to get any easier for he 9-9-5 Oilers, as they will next share the ice with the Florida Panthers in a rematch of teams involved in the last two editions of the Stanley Cup Final
