A top NBA analyst believes the Sacramento Kings could look elsewhere if they aren’t able to make a trade for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon came up with an alternative solution while discussing the situation on the “Game Theory Podcast.” Vecenie suggested Kings general manager Scott Perry could pivot to Kyle Kuzma, a player the Kings have pursued in the past, if the Warriors continue to stonewall their effort to acquire Kuminga.

“If you’re the Kings, I guess your leverage is to just go to the Warriors and say, ‘Look, you’re 100% right, we do want Jonathan Kuminga, but if you’re not willing to do Devin Carter, Malik Monk and something else, then we are just going to do a thing where we decide we’re just going to flip Malik Monk for Kyle Kuzma, and that will be our answer,’” Vecenie said. “If you’re the Milwaukee Bucks, you do that in a heartbeat, first and foremost. You’re ecstatic.”

Monk is not known to be a part of trade talks for Kuminga, but that doesn’t change Vecenie’s point that the Kings could put pressure on the Warriors by pivoting to another trade target.

Simon agreed the Bucks would be thrilled to acquire a playmaker and shot creator like Monk after waiving and stretching the $103 million remaining on Damian Lillard’s contract as he recovers from a torn Achilles.

“You don’t let Perry off the phone,” Simon said. “That is not a, ‘Hey, let’s think about it.’ You just say yes and move on.”

League sources told The Sacramento Bee the Kings have proposed a package that would send Carter, Dario Saric and two second-round draft picks to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal for Kuminga. The Warriors, who are seeking a good young player and a first-round pick, balked at that proposal.

One source told The Bee the Warriors couldn’t absorb Monk’s $18.8 million contract, even if they wanted to. Golden State is projected to be well over the $187.9 million luxury tax line and hard-capped at the $195.9 million first apron.

The Kings appear to be willing to move Monk for the right return. They want to add frontcourt length, athleticism and depth while alleviating a logjam in a backcourt that features Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, Monk, Keon Ellis, rookie Nique Clifford, Carter and Terence Davis.

Kuzma, 29, has two years remaining on a four-year, $90 million contract. He is owed $22.4 million this season and $20.3 million in 2026-27. The 6-foot-9, 221-pound forward is an eight-year NBA veteran who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards before being traded to Milwaukee last season.

Sacramento has been linked to Kuzma a number of times in recent years. The Kings were on the verge of a deal that would have sent Buddy Hield to Los Angeles for Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the summer of 2021, but the Lakers abruptly backed out to trade for Russell Westbrook instead.

Kuzma appeared in a total of 65 games for the Wizards and Bucks last season, averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 29.8 minutes per game. He shot 43.6% from the field and 30.7% from 3-point range. He averaged a career-high 22.2 points in 2023-24.