NBA trade proposal sends Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield to Kings

It’s a slow stretch on the NBA calendar. Training camps are close, but not quite here. That’s usually when I start cooking up fake trades just to keep things lively.

This time, though, I didn’t have to do the work. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus went ahead and tossed out a three-team deal involving the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets — with Jonathan Kuminga as the headliner.

Here’s the proposal:

• Kings receive: Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors), Buddy Hield (from Warriors)

• Warriors receive: Malik Monk (from Kings), Drew Timme (from Nets), protected 2026 first-rounder (from Kings)

• Nets receive: Dario Saric (from Kings), 2029 second-rounder (from Kings), $1 million (from Kings)

Pincus also projected that Kuminga would land a four-year, $82.8 million deal with a player option if he joined Sacramento.

Why it might not happen

Here’s the catch: the Warriors have already said no to something pretty similar. Sacramento reportedly offered Monk and a protected first for Kuminga earlier in the offseason. Golden State balked — especially with Buddy Hield (or Moses Moody) having to be thrown in as well.

The only way this becomes real is if the Warriors get spooked that Kuminga will take the $8 million qualifying offer and walk for nothing next summer. In that case, you take the best deal you can.

Why it might make sense

Monk is a proven scorer, and a fun one at that. He’d instantly give Golden State some pop on the perimeter. The problem? The Warriors are already preparing to add more guards, and this would only add to the backcourt crowding.

Still, as far as hypotheticals go, it’s not the worst-case scenario. And hey, it beats sitting around waiting for camp to open.