The Golden State Warriors are in a dire situation: Jimmy Butler is out for the season (ACL), Jonathan Kuminga has a bone bruise in his left knee (likely sidelined until after the Feb. 5 deadline), and the team is just 7-3 in their last 10 but sitting 8th in the West at 26-21. Kuminga – who endured 16 straight DNP-CDs from Steve Kerr – returned strong post-Butler trade: 20 points in 21 minutes vs. Raptors and 10 points in 9 minutes before injury vs. Mavericks.
Kuminga is now one of the hottest names on the NBA trade block. And according to many analysts, the Los Angeles Lakers are the perfect landing spot.
Proposed Trade
- Warriors receive: Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, 2028 Lakers 1st-round pick
- Lakers receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Why the Lakers Are the Ideal Fit for Kuminga
- Need for athletic downhill scorer: Lakers’ current wings include Rui Hachimura (solid role player, 27, free agent soon), Jarred Vanderbilt (elite defender but limited offense), Jake LaRavia (24, promising but inconsistent), and LeBron James (41, uncertain future). Kuminga (6’7″, 225 lbs) brings explosive transition scoring and rim pressure – exactly what LA lacks.
- Playoff flashes: Last season, when Curry went down, Kuminga scored 18, 30, 23, 26 points in the playoffs – proving he can be a #3 scorer on a championship team.
- Pairing with Luka Dončić: Kuminga is a below-average 3PT shooter (red flag next to Luka), but he’s a pure scorer who attacks the rim, creating space for Luka and LeBron. His athleticism would supercharge LA’s transition game.
Why Warriors Need to Trade Kuminga Now
- Kuminga is unhappy with Kerr and the organization.
- Current injury (bone bruise) risks lowering his value if prolonged.
- Warriors need assets to rebuild or add veterans. Knecht (young talent), Hachimura (high-salary role player), and a 2028 first-rounder is a fair package.
Risks for Lakers
- Losing a 2028 first-rounder – not cheap if Kuminga doesn’t pan out.
- Knecht and Hachimura aren’t perfect fits but are still rotation pieces.
- But if they believe in Kuminga’s upside (still only 23), this is a bold move to build a “Big 3” of Luka – LeBron – Kuminga.
Lakers Nation – is this the move to make? Trade Knecht + Hachimura + 2028 pick for Kuminga – or hold and wait for summer?