The Sacramento Kings have made it no secret they’re eyeing Jonathan Kuminga ahead of the February 5 trade deadline. The 23-year-old forward has flashed serious upside with the Golden State Warriors this season, and Sacramento sees him as a potential long-term piece-maybe even a future All-Star. But there’s one major problem: the contracts of DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk are clogging the path forward.
Kuminga has been quietly putting together a strong campaign in Golden State. In 20 games, including 13 starts, he’s averaging 12.1 points while posting career-bests in rebounds (5.9), assists (2.5), and true shooting percentage (54.3%).
He’s a high-flying, switchable wing who’s just scratching the surface of what he can become. And for a Kings team looking to level up in the Western Conference, he represents exactly the kind of player they want to build around.
But according to league sources, there’s been little movement between the two sides. The Warriors aren’t biting-not because they don’t value Kuminga, but because they’re not interested in what the Kings are offering in return.
Specifically, Golden State has no appetite for taking on the multi-year deals tied to DeRozan and Monk. DeRozan is on the books through 2026-27 at an average annual value of $24.8 million.
Monk’s deal, which carries an $18.8 million AAV, includes a player option worth $21.6 million for the 2027-28 season. That kind of long-term salary isn’t what the Warriors are looking for right now.
Golden State is prioritizing financial flexibility and would prefer to bring back an expiring contract in any Kuminga trade. That’s where the Kings hit a wall. Sacramento’s most appealing trade chips-DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, and Monk, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year runner-up-just don’t fit the Warriors’ current cap strategy.
It’s a tough spot for Sacramento. They’re clearly motivated to make a move, and Kuminga fits the mold of the young, athletic, two-way wing that’s become so valuable in today’s NBA. But unless they can pivot to a different package-one that includes an expiring deal or a younger player on a rookie contract-they might not have the assets to get this deal across the finish line.
There is some intrigue around Keon Ellis, who’s on a bargain $2.3 million contract that expires at the end of the season. He’s shown flashes and could be a developmental piece for Golden State. But even if the Warriors are mildly interested, Ellis alone won’t be enough to pry Kuminga loose.
The Warriors, for their part, are still trying to maximize what’s left of the Stephen Curry era. Pairing the four-time champion with a high-level three-and-D contributor could be a smart play, but they’re not going to compromise their financial future to do it. That means Sacramento will have to get creative-or risk watching one of their top trade targets slip away.
As the deadline draws closer, the Kings remain in the mix. But unless something changes, their pursuit of Kuminga is looking more like a long shot than a done deal.