The Jonathan Kuminga saga finally came to an end before the deadline when the Warriors shipped him off to Atlanta. But there's still a chance that the Sacramento Kings could be in the mix. The offseason is approaching, and the Kings are still looking to move DeMar DeRozan.
It's safe to say that the 2026 Trade Deadline didn't go down the way a lot of Kings' fans were hoping. Sacramento was looking to move Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis. Obviously, that didn't happen because all three players are still on the roster.
Simply put, the market is limited for them. Both LaVine and Sabonis have monster contracts, neither of them plays defense, and they're only really useful on offense in rather specific circumstances. DeRozan isn't as expensive, but his shot also isn't quite what it used to be these days.
The Kings didn't make any trades for them because there weren't any trades to make. And the front office isn't going to make a bad deal just for the sake of making a deal. This upcoming offseason is a completely different story for DeRozan in particular, as his contract provides a major opening.
A DeRozan for Kuminga switch could be good for the Kings
After this season ends, DeRozan only has one year left on his contract with Sacramento. The 2026-2027 season will be worth almost $26 million to DeMar, but only $10 million of it is guaranteed. There are stipulations based on Finals and All-Star appearances, none of which will happen.
This makes DeRozan immensely more tradable, not to mention easier to buy out if Sacramento decides to go that route. But there is a deal to be made with the Hawks for Kuminga using DeRozan if both sides are interested in making it happen. That will depend on how the rest of the season goes.
If Atlanta likes Kuminga, they might not be interested. If they want a mid-range legend who desperately needs a change in scenery, a move for DeRozan might be in the cards. There's no doubt that Kuminga would be a good fit for the Kings, though the Kings might not feel the same by summer.
At this point, trading for Kuminga doesn't seem as necessary as it did a few months ago. The De'Andre Hunter trade, combined with the growing young core, puts the Kings in a solid spot to start their rebuild. If Kuminga still fits, then the trade is a good way to build on that and move DeRozan.