Kings Still Eyeing Kuminga as Warriors' Standoff Drags On
There’s tension brewing in the Bay - and it’s not the kind that fuels a playoff run. Jonathan Kuminga wants out, and the Golden State Warriors don’t seem ready to let go.
The 23-year-old forward, once viewed as a key piece of the Warriors’ future, has now become the centerpiece of a trade saga that’s dragging deep into January. And while the Sacramento Kings remain the most persistent suitor, this deal is anything but straightforward.
Kuminga officially requested a trade the same day he became eligible to be moved - just weeks after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal to stay in Golden State. He opened the season in the starting lineup for the first 12 games, a clear attempt from both sides to mend what had become a strained relationship.
But since then? He’s been nailed to the bench.
Thursday night’s win over the Knicks marked the 14th straight DNP for Kuminga, a stretch that’s only deepened the divide.
Steve Kerr addressed the situation before tipoff, keeping things diplomatic but not exactly optimistic. “Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said.
“It is what it is. Difficult situation for everybody… part of the league, part of the job.”
That’s coach-speak for: this is messy, and we’re all just trying to get through it.
Meanwhile, Sacramento is still circling. The Kings have been after Kuminga since the summer, when he hit restricted free agency. General manager Scott Perry is actively reshaping a roster that’s been leaning too heavily on aging veterans and lacks positional balance - and Kuminga fits the mold of the kind of athletic, versatile forward they desperately need.
But the Warriors aren’t making it easy. Despite their unwillingness to give Kuminga consistent minutes, they’re still holding out for maximum value in return. That’s created a strange dynamic: Golden State doesn’t seem to value Kuminga enough to play him, but they’re not ready to let him go for anything less than a premium package.
At one point, Sacramento reportedly offered Malik Monk and a top-12 protected first-round pick. That deal didn’t move the needle for the Warriors, and now the Kings aren’t even willing to include a first-rounder at all. Golden State has shown no interest in Monk - who still has two years left on a $78 million deal - so if a trade is going to happen, Sacramento may need to get creative and bring in a third team to make the numbers and assets work.
But here’s the problem: the longer this drags on, the more Kuminga’s value dips, and the less leverage the Warriors have. Rival executives reportedly believe Golden State is bluffing when they say they’re willing to keep Kuminga past the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Whether that’s posturing or a genuine stance remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking.
Golden State sits at 23-19, clinging to the eighth spot in the West. This is a team that entered the season with championship hopes, but they don’t look like a real contender right now. And with a core built around Steph Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35), time isn’t exactly on their side.
The Warriors need help. Kuminga needs a fresh start.
And the Kings? They’re still waiting, watching, and hoping they can finally land their guy.
One way or another, something’s got to give - and soon.