Steve Kerr and the Warriors finally gave Jonathan Kuminga a chance out of necessity. Jimmy Butler tore his ACL, leaving a gaping hole on the roster that JK fills. For the well-wishers who want to see him succeed in Golden State, this is a window for JK to establish himself. However, at the back end is a trade request that general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. argues isn’t met with demand.

And so there came an economics lesson from Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner. When demand is scarce, either lower the asking price or utilize playing time to create intrigue in the market. Although Kuminga had a bright performance, scoring 20, it seems the future outlook is to accelerate trade interest by having JK play.

“Demand is sensitive to price or playing time. So if a seller sees demand is low, lower the price point or let him play and demand will go [up],” Turner wrote in a post made on X.

It’s an outline for what fans can expect as a domino effect of Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ailment. The aim is for Jonathan Kuminga to still move away, but by first creating adequate demand to ensure the Warriors can recoup assets. He’s being played because of an emergency situation, rather than Kerr seeing him as a positive influence on the Warriors.

Turner is following the same principle with his client Victor Oladipo. The former Pacers All-Star is currently playing in the G-League, hoping consistent performances can create a path that leads back to an NBA team. In Jonathan Kuminga’s case, the interest is lingering.

ESPN insider Shams Charania claimed both the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings remain interested. At this point, they hold leverage in talks. But if the Warriors can get some eye-catching performance from Kuminga in the coming few weeks, the incoming offers might get more attractive.

Jimmy Butler’s security puts pressure on the Warriors to move Jonathan Kuminga

Jimmy Butler, suffering a third major injury in his right knee, raised some concerns about the possibility of retirement. The Warriors forward vehemently shut down those concerns with an Instagram post. Furthermore, even Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors are more than open to waiting for him to return next season.

As the general manager said, “He’s got a style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, physicality, and mind for the game. My vision for him is returning at some point between now and this time next year”.

Top Stories

Charles Barkley Challenges ESPN To Fire Him After Harsh Criticism Of Co-Workers

Caitlin Clark’s Message to Steph Curry Contains a Subtle WNBA Plea, per Analyst

Paige Bueckers Finds Confidence in Unrivaled’s Financial Stance Amid Growing WNBA Uncertainty

Caitlin Clark Sends Message to Former Iowa Teammate During a Personal Moment

Bronny James All-Star Controversy Explodes After NBA Legends Accuse LeBron James

For Jonathan Kuminga, it means his days of consistent playing time are numbered. Kerr barely chose to play him today, despite his similarity to Butler. It’s almost inevitable that under such circumstances, the Warriors have to find a way to move on from JK before the trade deadline.

Kuminga may choose to endure the current season. His trade demand clearly shows his optimism that his game will bring him greater opportunities with a different team. The fifth-year forward might be forced to look for a way out if the decision is held back. Even with considerable demand, the Warriors might not secure the best possible return if things reach that point. As long as they have some leverage, the franchise needs to look to maximise the return they can get.

If the saga spills into next season, and the Warriors activate the team option, rivals could opt to wait another season and get JK as a free agent. In order to avoid any distractions, it’s probably in the Warriors’ best interest to deal Kuminga before the trade deadline.

How do you think the Warriors should move forward? Let us know your views in the comments below.