Trade Rumors: Are the Trail Blazers Interested in Jonathan Kuminga? | Numbers to Know in Portland
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reports that the Blazers have been linked to Jonathan Kuminga as trade season heats up (https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/will-the-warriors-make-a-bold-move-at-the-trade-deadline-or-waste-another-elite-season-from-stephen-curry-145057565.html). Is that a reasonable or good idea for Portland?
Plus numbers to know from Caleb Love’s unprecedented start to his career, Donovan Clingan’s putback rate and Deni Avdija’s shot selection.
I’m at the rumor mill round up. I’m at the stat deep dive. I’m at the combination rumor mill and stat dive.
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27 Comments
Can't see whats in it for the Blazers. we need shooters.
Kuminga? Why??
Blazers are finally rollin,
but Mike still has to make fake trade videos to fill out the work week 😭
I know people tend to do this after trades and not before, but FWIW Schmitz LOVED comparing Kuminga to Jaylen Brown pre-draft.
I don’t think they end up doing this, they like JG too much. But they surprised me a few too many times last summer to think I actually know anything at all about what they’ll do. I think if they do this, it would be a lot like the Nurk/Ayton trade. They raved about Ayton as the frontcourt centerpiece of the Dame trade and had their buddies in the media do the same, when in reality we knew he was just a flier and the real value was in what was attached to him. Here as well, they’ll talk up JK in the media because that’s what both JK and the fans want to hear. And maybe they like the idea of taking a flier on JK and seeing if he just needs a new situation and role… but I think what they’d really be valuing is some combination of financial flexibility, players attached to JK (Moody, Hield, etc) and/or draft picks
No trading quite yet, at least with the offers and scenarios that are floating around.
Caleb Love is a baller. He was a Baller in Summer League. He has been playing with confidence all year long. Caleb only needed more reps and now his shooting percentage is getting better. I have Loved Caleb Love the moment the TrailBlazers signed him. He also has the Clutch gene, always willing to take the winning shot. PDX may have their guard of the future in Caleb Love. Might be hard to find minutes for Scoot when he returns.
I would rather do something like Rob Williams and Matisse for Nic Claxton I would even throw in our 2031 first round pick. I doubt Brooklyn will do this but you never know, they like draft picks.
I would love too see MPJ in Portland.
Noooo thank you !
Let the pelicans have that bust.
Hey Mike, love your podcasts. I have a trade idea. I used ChatGPT as a sounding board and creator of this email doc:
{ Hi — I wanted to share a three-team trade concept I’ve been thinking about that I believe is both realistic under the CBA and fair for all sides, while especially helping Portland in its current situation.
This is not meant as a “fantasy blockbuster,” but as a front-office–plausible deadline framework built around contract timing, roster needs, and team direction.
PROPOSED THREE-TEAM TRADE
Golden State Warriors receive
– Jerami Grant (from Portland)
Washington Wizards receive
– Jonathan Kuminga (from Golden State)
– Buddy Hield (from Golden State)
Portland Trail Blazers receive
– CJ McCollum (from Washington – expiring contract)
– Portland’s own 2028 first-round pick (returned from Washington)
– One future Golden State draft asset
(preferably a protected first; alternatively multiple seconds)
WHY THIS MAKES SENSE — TEAM BY TEAM
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (Primary Beneficiary)
Portland’s motivation is flexibility, stability, and asset management — not chasing short-term wins.
Key factors:
– As of January 2026, Portland is extremely thin at guard due to injuries.
– CJ McCollum provides:
– Immediate veteran ball-handling
– Offensive organization
– No long-term cap commitment (expiring contract)
– Reclaiming the 2028 first-round pick removes future uncertainty and restores control over the asset pipeline.
– Converting Jerami Grant’s long, expensive contract into:
– cap relief,
– short-term roster stability,
– and draft value
aligns cleanly with a rebuilding timeline.
This is not a nostalgia move — it’s a bridge move that protects development while preserving future optionality.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Golden State is in a clear win-now window.
Why they consider this:
– Jerami Grant gives them:
– a proven two-way forward,
– lineup versatility,
– playoff-ready size and scoring.
– Kuminga’s role and extension timeline create uncertainty.
– Grant fits the Warriors’ current competitive timeline better than Kuminga’s development curve.
They accept:
– a longer contract,
– and some draft cost,
in exchange for immediate rotational certainty.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Washington’s logic centers on reorientation, not contention.
Why they consider this:
– They turn an expiring veteran (McCollum) into:
– a younger forward with upside (Kuminga),
– and a movable shooter (Hield).
– They are not sending out new draft capital.
– They gain flexibility to either:
– keep Kuminga as a building block, or
– flip assets later for additional value.
OPTIONAL REFINEMENTS (IF NEEDED)
If Portland prefers not to add another forward prospect:
– The Wizards’ outgoing player slot can be replaced with additional draft compensation instead.
– The Warriors’ pick can be structured with protections to reduce resistance.
– CJ McCollum can also be viewed as a deadline re-flip candidate, not a season-long commitment.
SUMMARY
This trade works because:
– Salaries match cleanly.
– Each team’s internal story makes sense.
– No team is forced into a bad timeline decision.
– Portland converts a long-term obligation into flexibility and control.
It’s not flashy — it’s practical, which is why it feels plausible.
Appreciate your time, and I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the framework.
Best,
Rick}
What do you think? Rick. GO BLAZERS!
Trading all depends on the asking price and what they think the player expects for playing time and fit. Kuminga has his moments but not seeing a role we need without more disruption than needed. I've been a fan of Caleb Love since he showed out in Summer League, but man has he stepped up. His defense has improved as much as his shot percentage. Clingan is balling too. I was worried that he would be too limited to effect the game on the offensive side, but you go big guy! Go Blazers.
Mike grinding finer than bread flour OO.
Mike jumped right away into WHAT the Blazers might have to give up for Kuminga. I was still stuck waaaay back on "WHY?" do we want him.?? I lost interest in rest of the broadcast til that case could be made.
Oh hell no
I love listening to this podcast. Thanks Mike! really loving the growth of Siddy Caleb and Donovan and basically the whole team! Players stepping up massively and that’s great!
I’m guessing you got so used to Deni being so good that somehow you forgot to mention his player of the week award/return of votings for all star?! Hoping a win against the rockets is in the cards for us!
Best hat of the pod
🗑️ Kuminga
Avdija is a team player. and should be All NBA.
Is it merely coincidental or interesting that both Kuminga and Grant last played an NBA game on December 18th – and then both of them were shut down at the exact same time?
Trader Joe wont do it, he is way smarter than that.
Mike, on Deni's shot chart there are 4x additional areas (3 of which are immediately adjacent to the white ones) that are 0/1 which pretty much fills out the rest of the left side inside the arc. That is 7x zones with no baskets made.
Noʻ trades until this summer.
Long term the trade works short term the trade works ❤ get it done ✅.. is it a perfect trade no never really is a perfect trade 🎉.. moody would be a good young piece as well that fits better than Rupert
The Blazers need shooters for Deni to pass to on the perimeter.
If they can't make the Grant /4 JK trade work, i would do a small trade like Moody, Santos, and BP for Robert Williams, Thybulle, and a 2nd rd pick.
I think Reath worth more for GSW then Rupert (4-5, good shooter). I'm not a big fan of Kuminga, but Scmitz might be. Moody is good for the depth.
If Blazers end up moving Grant, like Grant to the Bucks or Warriors. Id package a first or two, make the Warriors/Bucks throw one in to, send whatever players are incoming to Jazz and trade for Lauri Markkanen. Basically swapping Grants and Thybulle contract for his. He'd be an actual upgrade for the team, hes 28, 3 years younger than Grant. Similar player to Grant but just better in most ways vs taking on Kuzma or Kuminga who imo are both downgrades from Grant.