The Golden State Warriors must make a massive trade this winter.
Failing to bolster the roster would be a disservice to Stephen Curry, who only has a few elite seasons left to give.
The Warriors will presumably do whatever it takes to acquire a second star to place alongside Curry, but who?
Golden State has been linked to both realistic and outlandish trades, including a possible deal for Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers.
One of the recurring themes in any move the Warriors make for a star is that Jonathan Kuminga would be involved in the deal as a key trade piece.
Kuminga, a rising star in his own right, is the player that most if not all teams entertaining offers from Golden State are going to demand.
In a world in which the Clippers and Warriors do enter into negotiations surrounding Leonard, Kuminga would be the focal point for LA. Kuminga was even described as a “dream target” for the Clippers by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes on Monday.
“If the Golden State Warriors are willing to assume the risk of Kawhi Leonard's health and contract in a desperation push for one last title run, the LA Clippers should insist on Kuminga as the centerpiece of a deal,” Hughes said.
“The Warriors chose not to extend Kuminga, who subsequently pressed to start the season, resulting in awful production and long stretches during which he played a style difficult to distinguish from sabotage.”
“The Clips and the Warriors know he's better than that, and a change of scenery could unlock a game that actually warrants the massive salary Kuminga wants.”
Kuminga is in the final year of his four-year, $24.9 million rookie deal.
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