Kuminga, 23 in October, has not quite lived up to his 7th overall in the 2021 Draft billing. However, he has also averaged 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 stocks per game while playing only 25.6 minutes per game over the last two seasons.

Kawakami’s proposal is simply to partially guarantee the second year of the $45 million deal. That would keep Kuminga from having a no-trade clause and could be enticing enough to end the saga, given that it would net the young forward some guaranteed extra cash and stability.

Golden State could consider trading Jonathan Kuminga for DeMar DeRozan, signaling urgency in final phase of Stephen Curry’s era.