3 moves Warriors need to make to keep up with Suns after Bradley Beal trade

Move Warriors need to make to keep up with Suns: Trade Jonathan Kuminga

There has been buzz around the Warriors potentially trading Jonathan Kuminga for a high pick in next week’s NBA Draft. Kuminga’s workload was inconsistent all season and the 20-year-old slipped out of the rotation entirely in the playoffs.

It’s not uncommon for 20-year-olds to have a short leash in the playoffs, but Kuminga was the No. 7 overall pick in 2021 and the talent is plain to see. Not many 6-foot-8 forwards can match Kuminga’s downhill explosiveness and growth potential on the defensive end. Plenty of younger teams would be happy to hand Kuminga a significant, unwavering role.

For Golden State, the “two timelines” nonsense is firmly out the window. Moses Moody flashed nice upside in the playoffs, but the James Wiseman pick bombed and Kuminga hasn’t been able to get consistent high-leverage playing time as a top-7 pick. It was always foolish to prioritize youth over veteran depth in the middle of Stephen Curry’s prime.

The Warriors’ core is talented enough to get away with the front office’s misstep, but swapping Kuminga for a more ready player and netting a good draft pick would be a sensible move. The Warriors could even prioritize an older rookie, giving them a ready-made contributor under long-term team control in advance of the new CBA.

Something like…

The Warriors get an immediate, playable 3-and-D vet (on an expiring contract) in Reggie Bullock, plus another top-10 pick to bolster their depth chart. Think along the lines of Gradey Dick or Anthony Black: ready-now, ultra-intelligent and competitive young players with winning tendencies.

Dallas gets to swing on Kuminga’s upside without moving out of the first round (or even the top 20). This feels like a reasonable gamble both ways.