NBA trade proposal sends Jonathan Kuminga to Jazz, Klay Thompson to Warriors

NBA trade season brings out some creative thinking. Occasionally, it brings out something closer to an accounting seminar.

This one falls firmly in the second category.

NBA writer Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report floated a massive eight-team hypothetical trade built around the idea that the Warriors will explore moving Jonathan Kuminga once he becomes trade-eligible after January 14.

The proposal also brings a familiar name back to the Bay Area.

Here’s how Pincus mapped it out.

Warriors receive

• Klay Thompson (from Mavericks)
• Jonathan Isaac (from Magic)
• Day’Ron Sharpe (from Nets)
• Garrett Temple (from Raptors)
• 2027 first-round pick (via Jazz)

Jazz receive

• Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors)
• Hunter Tyson (from Nuggets)
• Nigel Hayes-Davis (from Suns)
• $2.5 million (from Suns)

Mavericks receive

• Cam Thomas (from Nets)
• Jalen Pickett (from Nuggets)
• $8.5 million trade exception (Klay Thompson)

Magic receive

• Buddy Hield (from Warriors)
• Haywood Highsmith (from Nets)
• $5.8 million trade exception (Jonathan Isaac)

Nets receive

• Al Horford (from Warriors)
• Trayce Jackson-Davis (from Warriors)
• Kyle Anderson (from Jazz)
• Georges Niang (from Jazz)
• Jett Howard (from Magic)
• 2026 Lakers second-round pick (via Raptors)
• 2027 Clippers second-round pick (via Jazz)
• 2030 second-round pick (via Mavericks)
• 2031 76ers second-round pick (via Jazz)
• $2.8 million (from Raptors)
• $2.7 million (from Nuggets)
• $2.5 million (from Suns)

Nuggets receive

• $2.2 million trade exception (Hunter Tyson)
• $2.2 million trade exception (Jalen Pickett)

Raptors receive

• $2.3 million trade exception (Garrett Temple)

Suns receive

• $2.0 million trade exception (Nigel Hayes-Davis)

The motivation is straightforward. The Warriors are widely expected to explore the market for Kuminga once restrictions lift. He signed a two-year, $48.5 million deal last summer with a team option designed to allow Golden State or another team to restructure his contract next offseason.

In this scenario, Kuminga gets his wish and Golden State gets a familiar face back.

Thompson reportedly wants to play for a contender, and a return to the Warriors has long carried emotional appeal because of Stephen Curry.

That said, trades involving eight teams, multiple rotation players, draft picks, trade exceptions and cash almost never materialize. Front offices may think creatively, but reality usually trims these ideas down to something far smaller.

Still, as a thought exercise, it checks the boxes. As an actual blueprint, it remains exactly that.