With the NBA trade deadline still two and a half weeks away, here’s a look at the most interesting things that have happened around the league in recent days.
Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t feel like it
In the least surprising NBA news ever, Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade from the Warriors as soon as he became eligible for trade on January 15.
The 23-year-old has not played since December 18 after being dropped from the rotation due to inconsistent play. At the height of the season, it looked like the Warriors’ Kuminga problem might have been turned around, with him shining in the first five games and starting 12.
But it didn’t take long for him and his $22 million salary to become a fixture on the bench this season. It’s a tough sight to watch for a veteran-laden team with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, who want to challenge for another title but, as Butler recently acknowledged, are currently “mediocre” with a 24-19 record.
Kuminga wants a bigger role. And the Warriors need Kuminga’s heavy salary to be applied to someone who won’t be a fixture in the pine forest.
The clock is ticking and the Warriors must find a solution.
Yes Morant expresses loyalty
Brave effort, yes.
But it’s probably a bit too late to try to clean up the damage.
In his first game back from a bruise on his right calf that had sidelined him for the previous six games, Morant looked and sounded great on Sunday.
He had 24 points and 13 assists in 28 minutes in the Grizzlies’ 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic in London. He looked more like the electric player who is a two-time All-Star than someone who is in a slump this season.
Then, after that performance, he couldn’t have responded more perfectly when asked about the news that the Grizzlies had made trade offers for the star.
“If anyone here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant said. “I have a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be.”
The only problem is, Morant’s commitment to the Grizzlies has looked very different all season.
He was suspended for a match in early November after a heated argument with coach Tuomas Iisalo that focused on his leadership reportedly questioned and he responded negatively. When he returned, when asked if he had the same joy as usual, he said, “No.”
He is averaging career lows in field goal percentage (40.1%) and 3-point percentage (20.8%), while only appearing in 18 games due to injuries.
And on Wednesday, during Morant’s first media presence since news broke that the Grizzlies were open to acquiring their star, he was short of reporters, including responding to a question about whether he thought he would remain with the team past the Feb. 5 trade deadline by asking a question of his own.
“I’m the only one you asked that question to?” Morant snapped.
If anything, Morant’s stellar performance and show of loyalty could be a good step in increasing his trade value. But it appears a split with the Grizzlies is inevitable, whether it happens at the February 5 trade deadline… or later.
For Morant, Sunday was a good reminder of who he can be. But after multiple suspensions in recent years, coupled with his subpar play and maturity issues this season, it may be too little too late to turn things around for the Grizzlies.
You’re alienating Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Really, Bucks fans?
Are you going to boo Giannis Antetokounmpo? Are you going to boo the two-time MVP who brought you a championship in 2021? You’re going to scold the guy who told it the other day The athletic, “there will never be a chance” that he will ask for a trade?
And you’re going to do this a few weeks before the trade deadline?
While Bucks fans had every right to be disgusted with their team when they trailed the Minnesota Timberwolves (who were playing without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert) by more than 30 points at halftime on Tuesday, it was ill-advised to lash out.
Especially not now.
Antetokounmpo responded by sitting on the floor and berating Bucks fans after he was fouled on a made layup to Julius Randle in the first basket of the third quarter.
“If people don’t believe in me, I’m not inclined to be with them,” Antetokounmpo said of him booing his home crowd. “I’m often against them.”
The point is, no one is more angry about the Bucks’ 17-24 record than Antetokounmpo.
Before signing a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Milwaukee in October 2023, including a player option for the 2027-2028 season, he told the New York Times that he wouldn’t sign if he didn’t feel like the team was trying to compete for a championship.
And in Antetokounmpo’s recent interview with The Athletic, he added that sometimes people change their minds about things, even though he made it clear he wouldn’t ask for a trade.
The Bucks are in the midst of an ugly three-game losing streak that saw them trail San Antonio by as many as 41 points on Tuesday and San Antonio by as many as 39 on Thursday.
Antetokounmpo can’t be happy about that, and it seems foolish for Bucks fans to add salt to the wound, especially now.
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