Jonathan Kuminga is sick and tired of playing for the Golden State Warriors. He wishes to be on a team that allows him to shine and develop into the All-Star he thinks he is. Meanwhile, the Warriors don't seem jazzed about having him in the lineup.
Just a few miles to the East, the Sacramento Kings are more than willing to sign Kuminga and let him thrive. So, why hasn't this happened? Well, if the Kings are serious about their desire, there is one way they can get the ball rolling.
It's time for the Kings to put up or shut up
The Kings have an infamous habit of wanting players but not really working for them. They envision a wonderful future with Kuminga flourishing, but they're not doing anything to make it happen.
Sacramento could take a big swing right now if they offered an unprotected first-round pick and any necessary salary to the Warriors. Since Golden State is ready to move on from Kuminga, they'd surely be enticed by this potential package. Could they say no? Of course they could. They might want to sign Kuminga and hold onto him until midseason, when another team might present them with something better.
Additionally, the Warriors and Kuminga could mend fences and make their relationship work. If they give him a no-trade clause and a player option at the end of a new deal, Kuminga might buy into Golden State's demands and actually play his heart out.
The fact that the Kings aren't willing to try this approach is infuriating to fans. They believe in what Kuminga can bring to the franchise and they think that the team should start to build a strong core of players around him. The team needs new life and needs to get younger and more driven. Kuminga has publicly stated that he wants more for himself. He's basically begging to be what the Kings need.
If he were to come to Sacramento, Kuminga would devote himself to the team, especially if he felt like a leader. But in order to make this happen, the front office might have to put a lot more on the line.
Many people believe that Jonathan Kuminga will eventually make his way to Sacramento, it's just a matter of when. If the Kings want to speed that process up, the time has come for them to get aggressive.