Jonathan Kuminga Asks Warriors for Trade on First Day of Eligibility
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SAN FRANCISCO — Forward Jonathan Kuminga has requested a trade from the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 15, the first day he can be dealt under his new contract, multiple league sources said.
Kuminga became trade-eligible after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal last summer that includes a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5.
The 23-year-old opened the season as a starter in Golden State’s first 12 games, but a stretch of inconsistent play led head coach Steve Kerr to drop him from the rotation. Kuminga has been inactive for the past 13 games and declared himself out with back soreness on Jan. 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a night Kerr had planned to use him while resting regular starters.
“I’m disappointed for him that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks,” Kerr said recently.
Team and league sources described the situation as untenable for all parties involved — including Kerr, veteran teammates and Kuminga — making a trade the preferred resolution before next month’s deadline.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has spent several weeks surveying offers. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks are among the clubs that have shown interest, attracted by Kuminga’s flexible contract, sources said. Golden State is seeking expiring salaries and has resisted taking on long-term money, such as the three years and $60.4 million left on Kings guard Malik Monk’s deal. Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, on a low-cost expiring contract, has been discussed as a possible sweetener.
The Warriors have not held substantive talks with the Brooklyn Nets in more than a month and have shown no real appetite for acquiring forward Michael Porter Jr., according to sources. The front office has long admired Trey Murphy III, but the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly unwilling to move any of their young wings.
Golden State would consider attaching multiple first-round picks for a high-end player, though executives inside the organization value their selections in 2028 and beyond more than their 2026 pick.
Despite Kuminga’s request, team officials have told rival clubs that they may wait until the offseason to make a decision, a stance some executives believe is merely leverage as the deadline approaches.
Source: ESPN
