Warriors predicted to deal 23-year-old NBA champion via ‘inevitable’ win-now move

Warriors predicted to deal 23-year-old NBA champion via ‘inevitable’ win-now move originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Golden State Warriors have hit a snag to begin the 2025-26 season, to put it lightly.

Sitting at 11-10 and boasting a painfully mediocre 1.3 net rating (No. 16 in NBA) through their first 21 games, the franchise's front office will likely scour the trade market for an immediate upgrade to add alongside Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Golden State's aging trio wishes to compete for one more title, and a game-changing trade could make their dreams come true. Fortunately, the writing has been on the wall concerning a transaction involving their rising star forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Kuminga and Golden State's will-they-won't-they restricted free agency saga dominated the 2025 offseason, and with the trade deadline quickly approaching, CBS Sports' Sam Quinn believes that the two parties will eventually complete their separation process via trade in the near future.

"The supporting cast isn't good enough," Quinn wrote Tuesday.

"It's really that simple."

"This team feels like a work in progress. The inevitable Kuminga trade will help, but the stars (and Moses Moody) are the only ones pulling their weight thus far."

In an effort to provide the 4-time NBA champion Curry with a legitimate chance to capture his fifth title, moving Kuminga appears to be the obvious solution for the Warriors' front office.

The uber-athletic 6-foot-7 forward has developed nicely since being selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by Golden State, but taking advantage of his trade value and untapped potential would go a long way with regard to finding another proven contributor with postseason experience.

In 14 appearances for the team this season, Kuminga has contributed 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists to go along with a 52.8% effective field goal percentage.

Teams such as the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets have been floated as potential trade suitors in the past, though no traction has been made with either franchise since conversations began to heat up this past summer.

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