Mavs Coach Jason Kidd Speaks On Jonathan Kuminga As Trade Rumors Persist Before Warriors Game
DALLAS - Jason Kidd has some lovely things to say about Jonathan Kuminga as part of his scouting-report preview of Thursday's Golden State Warriors visit to the Dallas Mavs.
Warriors GM ? Not so much.
Kuminga-related trade rumors continue to swirl ahead of the NBA's Feb. 5 deadline - and he is a driving force behind those rumors as he has "demanded'' an escape from Golden State.
The 6-7 Kuminga, 23, has star quality - through 19 games this season, Kuminga is averaging 12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 24.6 minutes per game - but he's fallen out of the rotation and sometimes spends games as a healthy DNP.
Maybe his status changes now that Jimmy Butler has suffered a season-ending injury. But Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy's recent review of Kuminga's status is a biting one.
Said Dunleavy when asked about Kuminga's trade "demand'': "As far as the demand, I'm aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand, there needs to be demand — on the market."
Ouch.
Meanwhile, Dallas coach Kidd seems to have a solid opinion on the player.
In response to a question from MavsRoundtable.com's Grant Afseth, Kidd said that Kuminga “He’s a young talent who can score, and we expect to see him (Thursday).”
OK, so it's not exactly a flowery review. But it's a positive one.
Kidd also expects the centerpiece of the Dallas lineup, Cooper Flagg, to again play as he fights through an ankle injury ahead tonight's 6:30 tipoff at the AAC.
“He looked good,” Kidd said of Flagg and his work in Dallas' weekend win at the Knicks, which moved the Mavs to 18-26, 12th in the West. “The athleticism, the balance, the spirit, the energy—it looked like he hadn’t been out.”
We do know that the Mavericks have shown some interest in a deal that might add Kuminga as a Flagg sidekick. ... as complicated as that might be given the possible inclusion of injury-sidelined Anthony Davis.
The Warriors (25-20 and in eighth place) are always a fun watch. But tonight at the AAC offers another reason to eyeball them. ... because of each team's stated view of Jonathan Kuminga.