Some NBA rumors float around like paper aeroplanes in a classroom… you know, harmless, amusing, and quickly forgotten? Then there are the ones that crash through the window, set off the fire alarm, and have everyone texting their group chats in all caps. Jonathan Kuminga’s name landing in the Sacramento Kings rumor chaos? That’s the latter.

The Kings, who not long ago were the darlings of the “Light the Beam” era, are now caught in the kind of trade gossip that makes you tilt your head and squint like you’ve just read a plot twist in a bad soap opera. And it’s not just any trade talk. It’s the talk that involves shipping out Malik Monk in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, possibly making room for Russell Westbrook to stroll into town. In NBA logic, this is the part of the movie where the plucky underdog franchise might be… intentionally breaking their own plot?

Kevin O’Connor, on The Kevin O’Connor Show, put it bluntly: “Uh I tweeted the other day, are the Kings secretly trying to tank?” Now, it wasn’t a troll. It was in direct response to ESPN’s Tim McMahon hinting that the Kings were front-runners for Westbrook while also having eyes on Kuminga. And that combo, plus whispers about DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and odd veteran signings, has left even seasoned insiders scratching their heads. Slightly, on the same show didn’t hold back either.

“Spot on. Not that their roster is bad enough to tank really… but I do think there’s a willingness there.” He even tossed out scenarios where the Sacramento Kings might take 70 cents on the dollar for Domantas Sabonis or give away DeRozan or LaVine if anyone was interested. Sprinkle in Schroder at the top end of his pay range, the missed Monk-for-Schroder sign-and-trade, and the bizarre possibility of replacing Monk with Russ, and you start wondering if someone in the front office is just spinning the roster wheel to see what happens. And then there’s the shooting problem.

Slightly hit the nail, saying, “Do the Kings know you have to shoot threes in the NBA to win?” It’s a fair question. The roster, as it’s shaping up, might require Zach LaVine to take 15 threes a night just to keep up with the modern game. This is from a franchise that, just a couple of years ago, was a joy to watch. Fast tempo, Sabonis playmaking from the elbows, De’Aaron Fox carving defenses. Now? You’re imagining Sabonis surrounded by DeRozan, LaVine, maybe Russ, and maybe Kuminga. That’s not so much “light the beam” as it is “dim the lamp and hope for the best.” Still, not everything is doom scroll material.

Kevin praised the youth: Devin Carter, Keon Ellis, Maxim Reno, Nick Clifford — a bunch of promising players who could actually fit a long-term plan. But as Kevin said, “I don’t want to see DeRozan eating all of those opportunities” when rookies should be getting touches. The contradiction? The same front office that drafted this fascinating youth is the one stockpiling veteran scorers who’ll soak up the ball. And right in the middle of this swirl of questionable roster wizardry sits Jonathan Kuminga. 

Keeping up with the Kuminga chaos

The 22-year-old forward just finished a season averaging 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 45.5% from the floor. His athleticism is undeniable with downhill drives, rim-rattling dunks, and flashes of defensive versatility. But for all the sizzle, Steve Kerr has often kept him chained to the bench late in games because of inconsistency, turnovers, and lapses on defense.

The Golden State Warriors offered him two years, $45 million with a team option, which basically translates to, “we like you, but we also like flexibility.” Jonathan Kuminga’s camp wasn’t having it, countering with three years, $82 million, the kind of contract you hand to a cornerstone, not a maybe-asset. The stalemate has been icy enough to make anyone shiver, with reports suggesting Kuminga might just bet on himself and play out his $7.9 million qualifying offer next summer.

If you’re Sacramento, this is both tantalizing and terrifying. On one hand, Kuminga could be the athletic jolt your roster desperately needs, and on the other, you could be renting a young star who has no intention of sticking around if the culture or role doesn’t suit him. That’s a gamble, especially when the cost might be Malik Monk, one of your most reliable offensive sparks. The ripple effects don’t stop there.

Bring in Kuminga, and your frontcourt rotations change. Your pace might tick up, but your spacing could vanish unless the coaching staff makes a real effort to surround him with shooters. If Russ joins too, you’re committing to a rim-attacking style that’s fun when it works… and a traffic jam when it doesn’t.

Meanwhile, Golden State’s decision here isn’t just about Kuminga. It’s about what they can or can’t do around Steph Curry’s narrowing championship window. Every dollar matters. Every roster slot matters. And Sacramento might just be the team willing to overpay in hopes of stealing a future centerpiece. Which leaves us with this: if the Kings pull the trigger, are they pushing chips in for a breakout star… or setting themselves up for a roster jigsaw puzzle that never quite fits? In the NBA, that answer only comes after the leap, and sometimes, the landing hurts.