The Nets would have required the Warriors to send Jonathan Kuminga their way if they wanted to land Cameron Johnson along with Dennis Schroder.
In the aftermath of the Dennis Schroder trade, more reports are coming out about the details of the negotiations. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer are reporting that the Warriors considered trading for Schroder and Cam Johnson. In the case that they wanted to trade for both players, the Warriors would have needed to send Jonathan Kuminga to the Nets to make the deal happen.
“To acquire both Schröder and Cam Johnson from the Nets, as league sources say was also weighed by the Warriors, almost certainly would have required them to surrender Jonathan Kuminga.”
In the end, the Warriors opted to land Dennis Schroder for a much cheaper haul. The Warriors gave up De'Anthony Melton and three second-round draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Dennis Schroder and a second-round draft pack. That is an incredibly cheap price for a player who has played as well as Schroder has this season.
This season, Schroder is averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game, while shooting 45.2% from the field, 38.7% from the three-point line, and 88.9% from the free-throw line this year. He has been one of the key players in the Nets' surprisingly strong start to the season this year.
A player like Kuminga would have been tantalizing for the Nets to land. Kuminga hasn't gotten many opportunities on the Warriors but has shown some flashes of brilliance when given a good role. With a young player on an expiring contract being given more of a role on a tanking team, Kuminga could come good on the promise and potential he has shown in his career.
This season, Kuminga has come into his own, averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 44/31/58 splits. Considering Cam Johnson is averaging 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 44/43/89 splits, it would have been a fair deal.
Warriors Could Package Schroder In Different Trade
While the trade for Schroder has been considered positive for the most part, the Warriors might not be his home for the rest of the season. Shams Charania reported that Dennis Schroder could be used as an asset for any future trade that the Warriors make ahead of the deadline.
This aligns with the report that the Warriors are not done making deals for the season, and are in the market for a star-level player. The Warriors have started the season surprisingly well, even without an improved roster. So it makes sense they want to capitalize on that good momentum and try to find a star who can help them do that.
It is difficult to pick which star the Warriors will target. Players like Jimmy Butler, and even LeBron James, have been linked to the Dubs. But as of now, there is some concern about whether the Warriors have the assets to pull off those deals. Furthermore, some wonder whether the Warriors would part ways with the assets they have for two old players on expiring deals.
