As the NBA trade deadline inches closer, the Golden State Warriors once again find themselves at the center of serious trade conversations-this time with a familiar Eastern Conference counterpart. According to multiple reports, the Warriors and the Miami Heat have reopened discussions on a potential deal that could shake up both rosters.
And at the heart of it all? Jonathan Kuminga.
Here’s what we know: Golden State and Miami have been exploring a trade framework that would send Kuminga to South Beach and bring Andrew Wiggins back to the Bay. That’s right-Wiggins, who played a pivotal role in Golden State’s 2022 title run, could be making a return trip to the Warriors if this deal materializes. NBA insider Jake Fischer noted that there’s “absolutely some type of framework” that’s been discussed between the two franchises, indicating that this isn’t just smoke-it’s got some real fire behind it.
Now, this isn’t the first time Kuminga's name has surfaced in trade talks. The Warriors reportedly turned down an offer from the Sacramento Kings earlier this season, signaling that they’re not just looking to move the 23-year-old forward for the sake of it.
But Miami’s interest in Kuminga seems more serious, and it’s not new. Marc Stein has also hinted at similar conversations, reinforcing the idea that the Heat are actively pursuing the athletic young wing.
Kuminga’s 2025-26 campaign has been a rollercoaster. For a stretch, he was completely out of Steve Kerr’s rotation-16 straight DNPs, to be exact.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player with his upside. But things shifted dramatically when Jimmy Butler went down with a season-ending ACL injury.
Suddenly, Kuminga had a path to minutes again, and he made the most of it-dropping 30 points in 30 minutes off the bench in his return to action.
Unfortunately, just as quickly as that door opened, it slammed shut again. Kuminga suffered an injury of his own in a matchup against the Mavericks and missed the Warriors’ next two games against the Timberwolves. It’s a tough break for a player who seemed poised to reassert himself in the rotation.
Still, the Butler injury may have altered Golden State’s approach. According to Anthony Slater, the Warriors are now “less likely” to move Kuminga in the wake of Butler’s absence.
The logic? With Butler out, Miami’s need for a dynamic wing like Kuminga increases-so does his value.
And internally, there’s reportedly been talk of giving Kuminga another real shot at carving out a role post-deadline-if he’s still on the roster, that is.
Before his injury, Kuminga was averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Solid numbers for a player who’s had to fight for minutes all season.
The talent is there. The question is whether Golden State sees him as part of their future-or as a trade chip to retool around their veteran core.
The clock is ticking. With the deadline looming, the Warriors have a decision to make.
Do they double down on their youth and give Kuminga the runway to grow? Or do they look to bring back a known quantity in Wiggins and make one last push with the current core?
One thing’s for sure: this isn’t just background noise. The talks are real, the stakes are high, and the Warriors’ next move could define the rest of their season-and maybe even their next few years.