On The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, the guys revisited a move that didn’t happen — but might still define the conversation around the Sacramento Kings. When trade talks for Jonathan Kuminga fizzled out, did general manager Scott Perry miss his window, or simply avoid overpaying for potential?
Jonathan Kuminga, long linked to Sacramento in trade rumors dating back to last summer, was ultimately moved from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks during last month’s trade deadline that brought Kristaps Porzingis to the Bay Area.
That left Kings fans wondering whether Perry should have pushed harder — perhaps even dangling a future unprotected first-round pick — to get a deal done.
During offseason trade negotiations, the Warriors pushed for an unprotected first in any deal involving Kuminga, but Sacramento never budged on that ask.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Did the Sacramento Kings miss out on Jonathan Kuminga?
Jonathan Kuminga’s trade value dipped as the season unfolded amid ongoing tension with Golden State, leading to a one-for-one swap with Porzingis, with no picks involved.
Since landing in Atlanta, Kuminga–a former seventh-overall pick–has looked every bit like a top-ten pick, averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on 67 percent shooting from the field.
It’s early, but it’s already looking like teams that were interested in Kuminga–Sacramento included–may have missed out on acquiring the 23-year-old.
So… Did Perry make a mistake by not getting a deal done?
“I don’t think he made a mistake necessarily,” Dave said of Perry’s failure to trade for Jonathan Kuminga. “But time will tell, too. Because here’s the thing — if Jonathan Kuminga ends up averaging, you know, 25, eight, and eight and has a great career, well then yeah, he made a mistake, because you offer whatever it would have taken, including a future unprotected first-round pick.”
For now, though, Dave isn’t ready to call it a blunder.
“So I don’t think it was a mistake, at least not now,” he continued. “But boy, Kuminga sure would be nice to have as that bright spot toward the end of the year.”
According to Dave, the debate isn’t so much about regret as about opportunity. “If you look at it this way, and you say, was it a mistake? Well, they didn’t get him,” Dave said. “But then you go, how has he looked on another team? Maybe the instincts were right.
“So I think the instincts on their desire — their very public desire — to get him at this moment look like they were the right instincts,” Dave added. “So I think that’s a good thing.”
Jason and Dave also pointed out a broader NBA trend: stars and near-stars rarely get traded within the same conference. “If a star or superstar-type player is up for a trade, there’s a 90-something percent chance that star will go to a separate conference,” Dave said.
Dave cited examples like Kawhi Leonard (from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors, then to the Los Angeles Clippers), James Harden switching conferences multiple times, and Donovan Mitchell going from the Utah Jazz to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“The one that bucks that trend recently, to be honest with you, is Luka Doncic,” Dave said. “But that’s near unprecedented for that to happen. And again, we think that was a little bit strange.”
In other words, Scott Perry may not have made a mistake — but if Jonathan Kuminga blossoms into a star in Atlanta, the question won’t be going away anytime soon.
Check out the full conversation by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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