The Golden State Warriors have been talked about a lot when it comes to the trade rumor mill. A lot of those talks have had James Wiseman being named a potential trade candidate. Another name that has come up a lot since the 2021 NBA Draft is Jonathan Kuminga, who was selected with the No. 7 overall pick.
Despite all of the rumors, the Warriors have not been aggressive in trade talks. In fact, they have been relatively silent with most reports coming out that they aren’t pursuing a big-time star with Wiseman or Kuminga.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic has given more information about the Warriors’ plans. It appears that they have made a decision about the future of Wiseman and Kuminga with the franchise.
“Joe Lacob isn’t bluffing. He does not want to trade James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga. You can question his vision, but I wouldn’t be skeptical of the transparency.”
Wiseman is coming off of a decent rookie season that was full with ups and downs. He ended the year averaging 11.5 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds. Not a bad start to his career, but the Warriors envision much bigger things coming for him.
Kuminga, on the other hand, is coming off of a season with the G-League Ignite. He averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. While he may not be a huge difference maker as a rookie, the Warriors do believe he has the potential to be a very important role player immediately.
It seems likely that the Warriors will avoid making a big-time splash until at least the trade deadline. That could change if a name like Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard becomes available. But, as far as Ben Simmons is concerned, the Warriors would likely prefer to hold on to their young talent.
Expect to continue hearing rumors about the Warriors in the coming weeks. For now, don’t expect to see James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga dealt.
Want the latest news on NBA trade talks or free agency rumors? Want analysis on your favorite team? Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and NewsBreak for the latest news, rumors, and analysis from around the league.
