The Clippers have been tied to Peyton Watson for weeks, but another young wing has pushed his way into the conversation: Jonathan Kuminga.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, LA is interested in a sign-and-trade deal for Kuminga, and there’s a real argument that he may be the cleaner fit. Watson has been the bigger name in the Clippers’ orbit, and he’s still viewed as a player who could break out next season and eventually become an All-Star. But Kuminga brings a different kind of appeal, and for this roster, that may matter more.
His athleticism is the headline. Kuminga has some of the best burst in the league, and that kind of juice would pair well with two high-end playmakers in Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler. He also checks a lot of the same boxes as Watson: he can score, defend, and stretch the floor.
There’s another layer here, too. LA may be able to save a couple of million on Kuminga, which makes the long-term play even more attractive if the Clippers decide to go all in.
The interest in Kuminga is still new, while the Watson buzz has been building for a while, with multiple credible reports linking the Clippers to him. Even so, the case for shifting direction is easy to see. Kuminga is available now, and if another contender gets involved, the Clippers could lose their shot.
What he did last season gives the idea some weight. For the Atlanta Hawks, Kuminga appeared in 16 games and averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field in 22.1 minutes off the bench.
He also held up in the postseason. Against the eventual champions, his role grew to 26.0 minutes per game, and he answered with 13.7 points per night while shooting 48.3% from the field.
That kind of production matters because Kuminga doesn’t need a huge offensive load to make an impact. He can score efficiently, and that makes him one of the better fits on the market next to the Clippers’ backcourt.
If LA gets him, there’s also room for more. With development from the Clippers’ staff and some learning under the wing of Brandon Ingram, assuming the trade goes through, Kuminga’s ceiling could keep climbing.
Watson has been the focus for a while, but the Clippers may be better off turning their attention to Kuminga and exploring the sign-and-trade path before someone else beats them to it.
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