Is This 2021 Draft Pick Worth the Risk for Sacramento?
As the 2025 NBA offseason continues, 22-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga remains one of the most intriguing yet uncertain names on the market. A restricted free agent coming off his fourth season with the Golden State Warriors, Kuminga still hasn't signed a new deal, whether that be a return to Golden State or a fresh start elsewhere. Much of that is due to the challenging market this summer, with most teams lacking cap space and few willing to gamble on a still-developing, high-upside player. Despite his physical tools and recent progress, he’s primarily viewed as a wild card. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, but not enough consistency to earn the type of contract or role he's reportedly seeking. At the same time, Golden State has expressed interest in bringing him back, but only in a limited capacity that doesn’t align with his aspirations.
Kuminga has made it clear that he wants more. He’s not just looking for a paycheck; he wants opportunity. He’s searching for a situation where he can play real minutes, contribute meaningfully, and showcase the potential that made him the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, his relationship with the Warriors seems to be deteriorating. If the team wants to keep him, it would likely require an overpay, something they might not be willing to do given their internal roster plans. That has opened the door for a sign-and-trade scenario, and the Sacramento Kings have emerged as the most serious suitor. While other teams have been loosely connected to Kuminga, the Kings are believed to be the only ones who’ve extended a formal offer.
New Kings general manager Scott Perry is reportedly a believer in Kuminga’s talent and upside. Sacramento’s roster lacks a player with his particular strengths: elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and finishing ability in transition. In 2023–24, Kuminga averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 52.9% shooting from the field and 32.1% from three, all career-highs. His efficiency took a big leap, and he began to show more confidence attacking the rim and playing within the offense. Even if he doesn’t become a star, Perry likely sees him as at least a valuable rotation player or a high-end role guy on a team that’s trying to build toward long-term contention in the West.
In Sacramento, Kuminga could find an environment that provides him with the space to grow while also allowing him to contribute right away. Playing next to Domantas Sabonis in the frontcourt would allow him to feast on cuts, transition opportunities, and secondary actions without needing to be a primary option. Learning under a veteran like DeMar DeRozan would be invaluable for his offensive development, and sharing the forward spots long-term with someone like Keegan Murray could give the Kings one of the more athletic and versatile pairings in the league. His presence would add size, athleticism, and defensive upside traits that are sorely needed on a Sacramento team that sometimes lacks physicality on the wing.
Of course, there are still holes in Kuminga’s game. His outside shot remains unreliable, hovering around 30–32% from beyond the arc. He’s also had stretches of inconsistent effort on defense and has shown shaky decision-making, especially when asked to create off the dribble. Still, at just 22 years old, there's time for development, and he’s already made steady improvements each year. His playoff averages last season, 15.3 points per game on solid efficiency, including a 30-point breakout in Game Three against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Second Round of the playoffs, suggest that when given a role, he’s capable of rising to the occasion. At worst, he could become a player similar to Aaron Gordon, a high-level glue guy who defends, finishes, and does the dirty work. At best, the ceiling is significantly higher. Some still believe he has all-star upside if he lands in the right situation.
The risk for Sacramento would come down to cost. Any sign-and-trade scenario could require parting with a core rotation piece like Malik Monk, who has been instrumental to the Kings’ success and fan connection. Monk’s absence would be felt, but the opportunity to land a player with Kuminga’s upside at a potential discount is rare. You don’t often get to acquire top-seven lottery talent who’s still on the upswing without having to give up multiple assets. This is precisely the kind of buy-low move that a forward-thinking team makes to set itself up for the future.
Ultimately, Sacramento is in a position where it must balance winning now with building toward a sustainable future. A calculated risk on Jonathan Kuminga, one that addresses a positional need and injects youth and upside into the roster, makes sense. His fit next to Sabonis, DeRozan, and Murray is clean, and the Kings’ infrastructure could be precisely what Kuminga needs to take the next step in his development. Even if it costs someone as meaningful as Malik Monk, the Kings should be willing to take that chance. For a franchise looking to leap from playoff contender to actual title threat, betting on Kuminga’s potential is a risk worth taking.
