Warriors Explore Kuminga Trade Talks Amid Horford Surge

Merlin sees Golden State weighing whether to chase a center before the trade deadline, a choice that rests on how Al Horford performs in the next month. Horford, working back from injuries, has averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in his last five games. As ESPN’s Anthony Slater said, "if the surge continues, [the Warriors] could feel less inclined to enter the center market," though "league sources said they have sniffed around," with Nic Claxton floated as a possible target. Merlin notes the parallel thread: Jonathan Kuminga may be available. Teams like Portland, New Orleans, and Washington have been linked, and reports say he "has been very frustrated" outside Steve Kerr’s rotation. Golden State is cautious about taking long negative contracts, so interested clubs may need to offer expiring salary. At 19-18 and eighth in the West, the Warriors must choose between a short-term roster push or banking on Horford’s momentum.