When it comes to developing players, the Miami Heat organization is one of, if not the best in the entire association. They could potentially get their hands on their most enticing development piece yet. This potential piece is Golden State Warriors’ forward Jonathan Kuminga.
At the attractive age of just 22 years old, Kuminga’s growth has been stunted a bit in the Bay. Steve Kerr has kept the talented youngster on a tight leash as of late. Consequently, Kuminga found himself out of Golden State’s playoff rotation this past spring.
Kuminga is set to become a restricted free agent in the coming days to begin this year’s offseason. This means that if an outside team extends a contract offer to him, the Warriors would have a few days to match that offer. They could still retain him.
Another route could be a sign-and-trade. Although Golden State doesn’t have much leverage in acquiring assets, especially after Kuminga’s potential departure.
A hefty chunk of the Warriors’ payroll is already tied up between the Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green payroll. ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks expects Kuminga’s market value to be around three years and just under the $80 million mark. That type of financial commitment seems difficult for Golden State to pull off at this point.
That’s where rival teams, like the Heat, come in as the next landing spot for Kuminga’s services. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Miami has “legitimate interest” in a partnership with Kuminga.
“The Miami Heat have legitimate Johnathan Kuminga interest, per league sources, among others expected to explore the idea as the market materializes.”
— The Athletic
Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang also stated the Heat’s interest in a recent article. However, they downplayed it a bit more than Slater did in The Athletic’s piece.
They described Miami’s link to Kuminga as “some level of interest.” Meanwhile, they noted the Heat front office is also currently exploring different moves to upgrade the roster.
Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly looking for a chance to be a featured scorer and playmaker for a team next season.
Despite Kuminga’s struggles to earn consistent minutes over the course of his Warriors tenure, he has displayed star potential. He has shown that in the opportunities that he has gotten over the years.
After Curry went down with an injury in Golden State’s recent playoff run, Kuminga received playing time and didn’t disappoint. He averaged 24.5 points and 3.5 rebounds on 55% shooting overall in the Warriors’ final four postseason games.
For the 2024-25 season, he put up 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals. He achieved these numbers on 45% from the field in 24 minutes per game.
At 6-foot-7, Kuminga displays a lengthy and versatile skill set. This skill set could help revamp coach Erik Spoelstra’s lineups. Although his outside shooting and defense needs to be improved, there is plenty of upside for the 22 year-old to achieve that growth in the near future.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the Heat would need to make moves to fit Kuminga in the team’s budget. A combination of Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson’s expiring salaries or Andrew Wiggins’ near $28 million salary would likely have to be surrendered to make the room.
At this point for the Heat, any sort of change is worth legitimately exploring. Even if it comes at the cost of a low-risk, high-reward type of addition like this.
Would you be willing to develop Kuminga in the Heat’s current timeline? Let us know in the comments!
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- Miami Heat draft Kasparas Jakucionis No. 20 overall in 2025 NBA Draft
- Warriors’ intriguing youngster Jonathan Kuminga linked to Heat
- Miami Heat are ‘active’ on the trade market ahead of NBA Draft
- Report: Heat have ‘continued’ trade talks with Lakers regarding Andrew Wiggins
- Hanifan: 9 players who crack the ‘my guys’ list for Heat ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
pat gets kuminga only way he can save face.giannis not coming here.
I would be surprised if the make up of this team has not become a negative to some that would help us if we could acquire them.
gsw cant afford him .i think he has more upside than bam.similar size
when was the last time a team had more white guys on it.prob have to go back to the 60s
Yeah, going to be a YUGE problem when he plays like Goran or Mark Price.
hes 6 6 def not mark price gorans a good comparison
6’5 and already bigger at PG than anyone we’ve had in a bit. S**t, he’s bigger than Herro at the 2.
is he a pg or 2 have u seen him play in college
In college a combo, but think we will play him at PG more than at the 2.
start over dav?
Definitely not at first. Eventually? Absolutely. He is more of a true PG with size, though Davion will more than likely be a better defensive player, but that is fine. We can always call on Davion when needed. But again, different skillsets and that is what teams need. We need to be able to adapt to the opponent.
Is it just a coincidence that Precious and Justice, even though they never developed into good players, were tradable, as is Wiggins, and maybe even Rozier, while it sure seems like there are no takers for Dunc, JJJ, Ty, and those are just the ones who have been exposed to trade scenarios. With every draft pick there should be an exit strategy and I only see some of these Heat players getting offloaded in package deals when we lose the player the other team really wanted.
This is an amazing feat, if no trades are made and Love remains in the nba, to now have the largest amount of white players by three over the next highest amount. Several teams have one or none and we will have seven of our top twelve. The statistical odds of that happening, on a twelve man rotation, is off the charts infinitesimally small. It shows a penchant, a predilection, to accumulating white players by Riley. It cannot be called coincidence anymore.
Are you suggesting he’s swept up in the anti-DEI movement? Hmm. Let the local beat reporters handle this.
White, Black or Green, yes you heard right, ‘ cos I come from Uranus, don’t really matter. The court will be the judge.
Yes it does lmao name one white pg that won a finals and took over in the last decade? This why Mia is this position now low iq/living in the past fo. My question what white player absolutely took over in the nba finals this year? Last year? There are anomalies every couple of years but this ain’t one of them. This team needs what okc pacers have not all these one way unathletic white boys
A white player was literally just picked #1 overall. lol. Herro won 6th man, then an AS. 6th MOTY this season was white. Y’all are some weird dudes who are complaining are probably white. lol
The Heat were picking at 20th. I’m not really sure what you thought they were going to be able to get. This guy was consistently mocked as a lottery pick.
So because he fell which is a good thing now? We should be happy huh? Stop doing shit like that naming other players to support your bs narrative about anomalies, this dude fell for a reason and you want us to celebrate? Mia has an unathletic roster dummy. Like I watched the finals and seen high level pg play and you think this dude can be up there with them
My man, you know who else fell? Jalen Johnson to 20th for the Hawks. He’s probably their best overall player moving forward.
Just because he’s white and picked 20th doesn’t mean s**t. Just like if he was darker and picked 20th didn’t mean success.
Anywho, I have you written down as he will be a bust with the other guys in this thread.
l a starting backcourt with this dude and Herro ain’t winning shit just look at the nba finals casual ass fan. Herro couldn’t even get by dean wade Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome. Little ass boys who can’t speak real this not no coincidence and being a team with more white players than black is saying something especially if they are one way white players
You keep talking about Herro when this is about our draft pick. Feel free to start a new thread or article.
Hey, we have Wiggins and he’s not white, so we’re good.
You’re a clown for sure. Again when was the last time a team with as many white boys Mia has have won anything you fucking clown
Uh oh. We have a white internet tough guy acting tough because he’s mad at fellow white guys. What a world we live in.
Let me know what I said that has you in your feelings. Because I didn’t trash this pick simply for the fact that he was white, which is exactly what you are doing.
You’ll be nowhere to be seen if this guy ends up being half good. You’ll be over on the Utah Jazz site.
i agree no need saying fucking clown though.im not happy with pick but theres a chance he could be good,austin reaves caruso giddy tj pritchard tyler all good players.its not impossible he can be a decent player.time will tell .but yes team has to many white players
Too many dgaf what anyone says that’s one of the reasons this team is where’s it’s at today one too many Tyler herros sorry not sorry. They can name as many outliers anomalies once in a blue moons all they want this team has a type and it’s gotten them nowhere
You and I have agreed on some issues, disagreed on others. You have every right to be unhappy with the pick. But you don’t need to be caustic bro, it’s just a difference of opinion.
Nice bro
I am not sure who the weird one is here. Let’s remember what was said tonite, and by who, and revisit this after two seasons. There is a reality here, not just what pie in the sky wishful thinking with rose colored glasses says.
People complaining we have too many white players is weird. #1 pick was white. #4 pick was white. We have a white 6th MOTY and AS. This year 6th MOTY was white. Pacers best bench guy in the Finals was white. Luca is white. Jokic is white. Lol. WTF is going on in here. Too funny.
If it makes you feel better, he is more European than American gringo, so absolutely a lot more game in their game, for sure.
People complaining we have too many white players is weird.
They do dummy, now name a team with as many as Mia that has done anything in the playoffs/finals in the last hmmmmm let’s say 40 years
walton bird mchale ainge
there are outliers just like in football theres a few good white wrs.no cornerbacks,no runners.itis what it is dont be so foolish
TJ played well, but when he had to play starter, he had some turnovers, that Halliburton would not have committed. No question Hartenstein and especially Holmgren played great, as did Caruso. Holmgren has an amazing level of rim protection so if you get the right players, use them well, and have a superstar and another excellent player, you can win with the make up of an OKC. But, when you get up to seven in a line up, there are too many limitations on defense, and often ball handling is difficult too. If that wasn’t true, why has no team tried to compete with a lineup like the Heat’s in 60+ years? Thats a very long time, represented by the equation: 60 years times the amount of teams, say 25 as an average, so 60•25= 1500 teams entered the season not trying to compete with a lineup like the Heat will enter 2025/26!
Don’t forget they have Topic stashed for next season, another white guy.
“If that wasn’t true, why has no team tried to compete with a lineup like the Heat’s in 60+ years?”
That is a really weird freaking question. So are you suggesting teams have gone into a build or set of seasons thinking hey, let’s get as many white players as possible. Of course not. So that is an odd example. Would that team have an issue with Joker was C and Luka PG?
No, I am saying the opposite of that. Without any question, the opposite is true.
Even the famous Celtics, the one exception to the rule, had like six when they had , Wedman, Ainge, Bird, McHale, and Walton and someone else. Was Cowens on that team? They had two of the greatest white players in Bird and McHale, and they also had some great black players. But, it’s very rare to be able to win with a lineup like that as players of that greatness are very few.
Just stating the statistical reality of how unlikely it is to happen by chance. And how absurd it is to pick a player so similar to other players we have. We had positions and skillsets of real need, but Pat thought this was his best choice. Not only does Pat look like a scary crypt keeper, but his ideas are moldy and covered in spider webs and dust.
Pray tell who is like him? Seriously. There isn’t a player on this team who has his playmaking and passing chops. Guys get assists because they pass to an open guy who hits shot. They don’t actually setup guys with passes and pick and rolls like him.
But I will wait to see who you have in mind.
Hopefully you’re right 🙏
Let the court be the judge.
Tyler herro JJJ Duncan Robinson Pelle Larson Nikola Jovic Kevin love and now Kasparas Jakučionis 7 of the same players save for Love who’s a big. These dudes looked at those finals and seen two way athletes and think whatever the f##k his name is can compete with those players. F##k this team
You can feel however you want, but he was mocked as high as 8 and as low as 22. The majority had him from 9-13. He is a playmaker passing. This team needs more playmakers. His 3 pt shot needs some refining, but was ranked the #2 PG and at that size, if he finds his shot, will be a Goran-like player. Time will tell.
You can feel how you want 7 is too f##King many 3 more than any other team one way players. Did you look at one nba finals game recently? Can he stack up to sga? Halliburton? In two/3/4 years?
7? You’re hung up on some weird s**t. We have a very good European player who came to the US and played well in college.
I mean we can always sign some darker UDFA’s if it makes you feel better. 😉
Nah I seen what players like amen Thompson think of your supposed SS in herro when he tossed him to the ground that’s the type of players this team has unathletic one way players who gonna get bullied lmao. You clowns cool with picks like this cause yall and pat live vicariously through players like him herro and that’s why you named Flagg and a 6moty and Herro
My supposed what in Herro? I’m here talking about our draft pick and showing how stupid you are bringing up he’s white. Actually, he’s European and not American white, so you are helping make the case he’s significantly more fundamentally sound in his game. Thanks for helping clarify that huge distinction.
Take it easy, man.
Absolutely true. And not talking about it is wrong and just avoiding the elephant in every room. The whole nba is probably laughing at us and are making up nicknames for us right now. This is an outrage! It’s absurd and insane. We had some real roster shortcomings that should have been addressed. And it’s not just that these players often can’t compete in this large of numbers because of what I refer to as an accumulation of skill limitations, but then you are stuck with them. We are truly in purgatory now. I know some will try to stay optimistic, but that is because they are trying to be nice instead of honest.
I think you know I don’t say anything just to be nice. As I stated, I would’ve traded down if possible to get another pick. But one of our needs was a starting level point guard and this guy was ranked higher and he has a good skill set and size for the position. Players like Jokic, Butler, Giannis all were passed up by many and flourished. I don’t expect this guy to be that and I hope he is not like Winslow who was also ranked higher. I will not draw a conclusion based on his ethnicity, but on what I see on the court. I actually hope there is a reasonable trade coming up to get some much needed fresh talent here.
These guys are literally basing everything on ethnicity while being that same ethnicity. I’m enjoying it and can’t wait to see where they’re at when this kid is a starter and their pick is playing in Turkey.
I will simply wait until I see him play. I have watched some highlights, but always take them with a grain of salt.
KJ or JK for short.
Wtf man he’s gonna be good I’m sure because heat scouting I trust but wtf
You’re saying wtf because nobody thought he would be here, so we are reacting to names you heard in this range that weren’t picked. For example, you heard Clayton all day, but he was mocked over Clayton in every single mock. Every. Single. One.
I’m saying wtf because I’ve had to watch this rancid Spoelstra offense the past 3 years and I’m sick of it if we’re gonna be mid I would’ve liked something thrilling today like explosive athleticism or crazy bucket getting I’m sure KJ is going to be good Miami knows what they’re doing
I think Clayton was the last clear bucket getter and was picked before the Heat had a chance. That being said, they pick Clayton and everyone complains he’s too small.
Who we got?
Another unathletic Tyler Herro type player lmao
A Pat Riley type! Another player no one will want in trade. This is why no one can be allowed to have total power with no performance repercussions.
He was mocked to go top 12 multiple times. Time will tell, but for value in every single mock this is a player that was nowhere near this part of the draft. Our new Goran.
Pat’s msg to Tyler: you got to improve more or we have your replacement
You think JK is better than Tyler?
Different players. That’s a good thing. We need someone who can help setup Bam, Ware, and Herro. Neither of those 3 are great at setting up things for others. Davion may have been the best passer on the team and he showed up at the end and might not even be on the team if someone offers him a bunch of $.
Who’s Jakucionis?!!
Now this would be a nice piece to acquire as long as what goes out doesn’t weaken us too much.