Peyton Watson's sign-and-trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday has dealt another crushing blow to Jonathan Kuminga, with options running out for the former Golden State Warriors forward.
The Cavaliers were a strong suitor for Kuminga over recent weeks, but they prioritized Watson and ultimately landed the 23-year-old in a multi-team trade that sees the Denver Nuggets acquire a 2031 first-round pick while veteran sharpshooter Max Strus heads to the L.A. Clippers.
Peyton Watson trade deals Jonathan Kuminga another free agency blow
Kuminga would have been hoping the Nuggets retained Watson or sent him elsewhere, opening up a pathway to the Cavaliers where he could have reunited with former Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson.
The former Warrior is still chasing a nearly $20 million per year deal after the Atlanta Hawks declined his $24.3 million team option prior to free agency. However, Watson's move to the Cavaliers further cements the likelihood that Kuminga will have to accept far less, potentially as low as the minimum which is what the Hawks reportedly offered to bring him back.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain the leading suitor for Kuminga, and they're leverage in negotiations has only been strengthened by the Cavaliers bowing out of the race as a result of the Watson acquisition.
The Lakers would need to appease the Hawks in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga to get the kind of contract he's after, but there's really no reason to give up assets when they're not particularly competing with another interested suitor. As for the Hawks, they've already got 16 contracted players and aren't going to take back a contract without getting additional value in a sign-and-trade.
Jonathan Kuminga's free agency gamble isn't panning out
For the second-straight year, Kuminga and his camp are taking a patient approach in free agency with the hope that the deal they're after eventually materializes. Now, for the second-straight year, it looks like the gamble won't pay off as things struggle to pan out for the former seventh overall pick.
Kuminga's restricted free agency was finally resolved last year on Golden State's terms, but at least he got some level of payday albeit on a short-term deal. He may have no other choice now but to sign a one-year prove it contract with a team like the Lakers, giving him 12 months to build his value and potentially hit the market again for a third-straight year.
After reported longer term offers from the Warriors last year and when he was extension-eligible entering his fourth year, this is turning into a nightmare situation for Kuminga which has taken another negative turn as a result of the Watson trade.
