Proposed 3-Team Trade Misses the Mark for the Cavaliers
After being eliminated from the playoffs in the second round, the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely make some roster tweaks.
In a May 31 article for Sports Illustrated, Rohan Raman proposed a three-team deal that would see Jonathan Kuminga land with the Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors forward is entering unrestricted free agency. As such, the deal is built around a sign-and-trade.
The proposed trade looks like this:
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Moses Moody and Dean Wade
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Jonathan Kuminga (S&T contract of 4-year, $85 million), 2027 2nd round pick (via CLE, from ATL)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Jarrett Allen, Georges Niang, 2025 2nd round pick (via CLE, #59), 2026 2nd round pick (via CLE), 2029 2nd round pick (via CLE, from ATL), 2031 2nd round pick (via ATL)
“Jonathan Kuminga’s flashes of potential are incredibly tantalizing,” Raman wrote. “The Cavaliers need a third scorer who can take some pressure from Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland – Kuminga could take on that role outside of the rigid Warriors’ system. At only 22 years old, he still has a good bit of development left in his career.”
Kuminga undoubtedly has bundles of untapped potential. If he could land with the Cavaliers and slot into the starting lineup, he could quickly emerge as a core part of Atkinson’s rotation. However, Kuminga is likely better suited to joining a rebuilding team, where he can develop into a first or second offensive option.
