The Golden State Warriors could complete a productive trade to land a star guard from the Sacramento Kings.
The Golden State Warriors are trending in the wrong direction with regard to finding a suitable Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade partner, but a new trade offer might change things.
Kuminga's restricted free agency stalemate has captured the gaze of the NBA world, and the Sacramento Kings have become a very real potential suitor for the 22-year-old wing.
The Athletic's Sam Amick reported Friday morning that the Kings offered their elite reserve scoring threat Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round draft selection in exchange for Kuminga, who would first ink a 3-year, $63 million deal with the Warriors.
The Warriors have yet to hold advanced talks with the Kings on a Kuminga-Monk swap, presumably due to Monk's hefty $78 million contract, but one NBA insider believes that Golden State should accept this deal in principle regardless of the financial constraints it may cause.
"If I am the Warriors, regardless of contract size and the three years left, I am taking Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick from the Kings," ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel share via Twitter/X on Friday.
"Maybe you can hold out a little longer and get those protections lifted, but Monk, (Al) Horford, (De'Anthony) Melton, and (Gary Payton II) create strong depth."
Sure, the Warriors would not be brimming with excitement about adding Monk's contract into the fold along with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler's combined $113.7 million salary for the 2025-26 season, but the team needs a player of Monk's archetype to fill out a necessary role in their rotation.
At just 27 years old, the former No. 11 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has developed into one of the most reliable bench scoring options in the NBA.
In 65 appearances with the Kings in 2024-25, the athletic and skilled shot-creator averaged 17.2 points and 5.6 assists while taking on more responsibility at the point guard position after Sacramento decided to trade 2023 All-Star De'Aaron Fox at the mid-season mark.
The former runner-up for the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year award would be able to provide a desperately needed offensive spark for a team lacking in one-on-one shot-creation outside of their legendary scoring guard Curry, who will be entering his 17th NBA season.
If the Warriors acquire Monk to star in a backup role alongside possible free agent signings Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton, the franchise could round out the edges of a true title contending roster.
More NBA: Warriors officially offered 17.2 ppg scorer, first-round pick in Kuminga trade
Category: Basketball
