With the NBA trade deadline 2 1/2 weeks away, here’s a look at the most interesting things to happen across the league over the past couple of days.
Jonathan Kuminga isn’t having it
In the least surprising NBA news ever, Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade from the Warriors as soon as he became trade-eligible on Jan. 15.
The 23-year-old hasn’t played since Dec. 18 after falling out of the rotation because of inconsistent play. At the top of the season, it looked as though the Warriors’ Kuminga issue might have turned around, with him shining in the first five games and starting the first 12 contests.
But it didn’t take long before he and his $22 million salary this season became a fixture on the bench. It’s a difficult sight to behold for a veteran-laden team featuring Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, who want to compete for another title, but, as Butler recently acknowledged, is currently “mediocre” with a 24-19 record.
Kuminga wants a bigger role. And the Warriors need Kuminga’s weighty salary to be applied to someone who isn’t going to be a fixture on the pinewood.
The clock is ticking for the Warriors to find a solution.
Ja Morant expresses loyalty
Valiant effort, Ja.
But it’s likely a bit too late to try and clean up the damage.
In his first game back from a bruise on his right calf that sidelined him for the previous six contests, Morant looked and sounded great Sunday.
He had 24 points and 13 assists in 28 minutes in the Grizzlies’ 126-109 win over the Orlando Magic in London. He resembled the electric player who’s a two-time All-Star, rather than someone who has been in a slump this season.
Then, after that performance, he couldn’t have responded more perfectly when asked about the news that the Grizzlies were fielding trade offers for the star.
“If anybody in here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy,” Morant said. “I got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be.”
The only problem is that throughout the season, Morant’s dedication to the Grizzlies has looked very different.
He was suspended for a game in early November after a heated exchange with coach Tuomas Iisalo in which his leadership was reportedly questioned, and he responded in a dismissive manner. Upon returning, when asked if he had the same joy as usual, he said, “No.”
He’s averaging career-lows in field goal percentage (40.1%) and 3-point percentage (20.8%), while only playing in 18 games because of injuries.
And on Wednesday, during Morant’s first media availability since news broke that the Grizzlies were open to shopping their star, he was short with reporters, including responding to a question about whether he believed he’d be with the team past the Feb. 5 trade deadline by asking a query himself.
“I’m the only one you asked that question to? Morant snapped.
If anything, Morant’s great performance and show of loyalty could be a good step in increasing his trade value. But it appears a divorce with the Grizzlies is inevitable, whether it happens at the Feb. 5 trade deadline…or later.
For Morant, Sunday was a good reminder of who he’s capable of being. But after multiple suspensions over the past few years, coupled with his subpar play and maturity issues this season, it might be too little too late to turn things around with the Grizzlies.
You’re alienating Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Really, Bucks fans?
You’re going to boo Giannis Antetokounmpo? You’re going to boo the two-time MVP who won you a championship in 2021? You’re going to boo the guy who recently told The Athletic, “there will never be a chance” that he’ll ask for a trade?
And you’re going to do this a few weeks before the trade deadline?
While Bucks fans had every right to be disgusted with their team when they trailed the Minnesota Timberwolves (who were playing without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert) by more than 30 points heading into halftime on Tuesday, it wasn’t wise for them to lash out.
Especially not now.
Antetokounmpo responded by sitting on the ground and booing Bucks fans after he was fouled on a made layup over Julius Randle in the first basket of the third quarter.
“When people don’t believe in me, I don’t tend to be with them,” Antetokounmpo said of him booing his home crowd. “I tend to be against them.”
The thing is, no one is more upset over the Bucks’ 17-24 record than Antetokounmpo.
Before signing a three-year, $186 million contract extension with Milwaukee in Oct. 2023 that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, he told the New York Times that he wasn’t going to sign if he didn’t feel the team was trying to compete for a championship.
And in Antetokounmpo’s recent interview with The Athletic, even though he made it clear that he wasn’t going to ask for a trade, he added that humans sometimes change their minds about things.
The Bucks are in the midst of an ugly three-game losing streak, in which they trailed Minnesota by as much as 41 points Tuesday and San Antonio by as much as 39 points Thursday.
Antetokounmpo can’t be pleased with that, and it seems foolish for Bucks fans to add salt to the wound, especially right now.