With the NBA trade deadline approaching, it was a surprise to see the Phoenix Suns mentioned as potential buyers.
When you have a season like they did and have a chance to make the playoffs, you have to take those kinds of opportunities seriously.
Jonathan Kuminga officially wants to leave Golden State
It felt like perfect timing when Shams Charania dropped the news that Jonathan Kuminga has not only asked to be traded by the Golden State Warriors, he has also demanded It.
Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade from the Warriors as he becomes eligible to be traded on Thursday, sources told ESPN.
Full story with @anthonyvslater: https://t.co/70ByLkfbIN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 15, 2026
Why this is a significant development in The Valley is because the price to acquire the 23-year-old forward has never been lower. The Warriors need to get rid of him, and fast.
While there was speculation over the summer that an offer from the Suns was rejected that included Grayson Allen, another player and some second-round picks, it’s best to believe the Warriors won’t get such a deal this time.
Also not helping their cause is the fact that Kuminga has been benched and has received plenty of DNP CDs, despite the Warriors clearly needing a spark to get their season going.
Compare that to the Suns, who have restored the trade value of both Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale by showing them on offense. Another reason to evaluate head coach Jordan Ott.
We just saw Trae Young, who has had a better career than Kuminga thus far and was once a franchise cornerstone in Atlanta, being moved due to a pair of expiring contracts.
The Ja Morant saga likely still has some time before it is resolved, and if a deal is made around the league, it won’t be close to what the Memphis Grizzlies could have gotten for him a few years ago.
So Kuminga could be the perfect opportunity for the Suns to pounce and add a young player with clear upside who the Warriors want to get rid of immediately.
While many other franchises around the league are waiting for Morant, or more likely Anthony Davis, to see what happens there, Phoenix can make a quick move and get Kuminga on the cheap.
There would also be a lot to say about his potential fitness, although it is unclear whether he has the motor to play with the kind of effort coach Ott requires.
This is a great place for the Suns to be, as they prove that their realignment around Devin Booker won’t last nearly as long as so many “experts” predicted.
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