The Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga problem could get solved soon, but the situation is far from easy to resolve.
Similar to the summertime, there is hardly a market for the veteran forward. And since Steve Kerr decided to banish Kuminga from the rotation, his value peaked early on in the year and has only been dropping since.
Now, the Warriors are reaching their key date where Kuminga becomes trade eligible, but just one team has interest in the veteran forward.
The Kings Have the Warriors Where They Want Them
Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area didn’t paint the ideal picture for Golden State’s situation. The reality is unfortunate.
“Of the other 29 teams in the NBA, only the Sacramento Kings have shown interest in acquiring Kuminga, according to league sources,” Poole wrote.
“… The other 28 teams have shown no more than tepid interest, sources say, leaving the market for Kuminga even cooler now than it was last July, when he was a restricted free agent hoping for an offer sheet that never came.”
Without a bidding war in play, the Warriors are going to be faced with a tough scenario that carries just two options: sell low or have Kuminga take up a roster spot for the remainder of the season.
The good news is that Kuminga’s frustration hasn’t boiled over to the point where he’s become a distraction behind the scenes. Recently, Kuminga’s teammate, Jimmy Butler, spoke highly of the homegrown Golden State veteran, which shows he still has the support of his teammates.
But there’s no guarantee that Kuminga keeps that composure throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season. Not only does he want to play, but it’s been made quite clear that Kuminga wants to move up the pecking order of a team’s rotation.
In 18 games this season, Kuminga averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, while shooting 43 percent from the field. Last season, he posted averages of 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 47 outings.
Landing in Sacramento would be ideal for Kuminga, considering they are ready to hit a reset on their program. It would offer the young veteran a fresh start without having to move too far. However, the Warriors hold the keys to his short-term future.
At the end of the day, it will be up to Golden State’s front office to move him, and they don’t seem to be in a rush to move off of him if the market isn’t where they want it to be.