The Sacramento Kings came hard for Jonathan Kuminga in sign-and-trade negotiations with the Golden State Warriors last offseason, and recent reports suggest the 23-year-old is still hoping that interest materializes into a major deal in the next 12 months.
Kuminga was forced to sign a two year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason, but the former Warrior forward believes the Kings may still come calling with a big contract next summer when he can opt out and become a free agent again, according to NBA insider Jake Fisher on Thursday.
Jonathan Kuminga shouldn’t be banking on major payday from Kings
Thinking about your next destination when you’ve just found a new home in recent weeks isn’t something you should be doing anyway, let alone for Kuminga who should know better than to think Sacramento will be waiting for him with a big deal in 12 months.
After the Warriors rejected their sign-and-trade offers and re-signed Kuminga to a two-year, $48.5 million contract with a second-year team option, the Kings should have acknowledged there was at least a chance he would enter unrestricted free agency this year.
That proved to be the case after the Atlanta Hawks declined the team option, yet Sacramento did nothing to position themselves with salary cap room for Kuminga to offer even the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Surely that is proof enough to tell Kuminga and his camp that they shouldn’t be banking on a big deal from the Kings next year. Sure, Zach Lavine’s contract is expiring and they could create cap space as a result, but that appears headed for another potential target who Sacramento have their eyes on.
Kings likely to prioritize Jalen Duren over Jonathan Kuminga
Based on recent reporting, the Kings are all in on Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren as a restricted free agent. Their interest is reportedly so strong that Duren could take the $9.6 million qualifying offer, allowing him to enter unrestricted free agency next year where Sacramento will be waiting with a max contract.
Where does that leave Kuminga? Perhaps the Kings could afford both, but a max for Duren is likely to prevent Kuminga from getting the kind of contract he’ll be after should he have a strong year in Minnesota.
Much like his eventual re-signing with the Warriors last offseason, Kuminga’s move to the Timberwolves appears a short-term marriage of convenience. He needs a big role and major opportunity to thrive, while Minnesota need a talented power forward after trading away Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
As much as it may be a great opportunity for the former seventh overall pick, it will almost certainly go nowhere though if he’s already got an eye to his next team in free agency next year.
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