The Golden State Warriors have been in a standstill with Jonathan Kuminga the entire offseason. There have been rumors that he’d be dealt to the Sacramento Kings in a sign-and-trade. There have also been rumors of a sign-and-trade to the Chicago Bulls.
Nothing has come of it in months.
Kuminga’s situation is holding up the potential signing of Boston Celtics big man Al Horford, and is keeping the offseason in a holding pattern. Transactions have been few and far between in recent weeks. Fred VanVleet just got injured, and the Houston Rockets feel closer to making a move than the Warriors do with Kuminga.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. may have overplayed his hand with Kuminga. Joe Lacob definitely overplayed his hand advocating for Golden State to take Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
The Volume’s Jason Timpf believes the Dubs’ front office needs to accept that they won’t get value back in a deal for Kuminga, but should be doing everything possible to salary dump Buddy Hield in the same trade.
“I think using Kuminga to substantially upgrade from Buddy Hield and get a protected first round pick back would be about as good as the Warriors can do with Kuminga,” Timpf wrote.
“The time to get (a) substantial asset return for him was years ago. That time has passed.”
Hield’s three-point shooting was average during the 2024-25 season, while his offensive work from inside the arc was borderline unacceptable for a starter. While he doesn’t make much money, dumping him could open up flexibility for a team that is one Jimmy Butler blockbuster away from being a title contender.
We’ll see what Dunleavy and Co. could accomplish with a Kuminga deal with the season tipping off less than a month from now. For what it's worth, Hield doesn't want to be moved.
It may not be a good thing that the Warriors are saying the same thing, since that usually precludes a deal in this league.