Warriors Reject Kings’ Kuminga Sign-and-Trade Over Moody, Hield Salaries
warriors-reject-kuminga-deal
The Golden State Warriors have turned down a proposed sign-and-trade from the Sacramento Kings that would have sent Jonathan Kuminga to Sacramento, league sources told The Athletic.
Proposed framework
• Kings sign Kuminga to a three-year, $63 million contract and acquire him.
• Warriors receive guard Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick protected for the lottery.
• If the 2030 pick failed to convey, Golden State would receive the least favorable of the Kings’ or San Antonio Spurs’ first-rounders in 2031.
Golden State rejected the offer because accepting it would have pushed the club above the first salary-cap apron, forcing the front office to unload additional money elsewhere. According to the report, the only realistic contracts to move were those of Moses Moody or newly acquired Buddy Hield—players the Warriors do not wish to trade.
Pick protections remain a sticking point
The Warriors insisted any first-round pick be unprotected, a condition Sacramento was unwilling to meet, creating the current impasse.
Player production last season
Moses Moody, 23: 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 22.3 minutes; 43.3% from the field, 37.4% from three in 74 games (34 starts).
Buddy Hield, 32: 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 22.7 minutes; 41.7% shooting, 37.0% from deep in all 82 games (22 starts).
Kuminga expected to stay—for now
Golden State plans to keep Kuminga on its 2025-26 roster, though his status could change before the Oct. 1 deadline to accept a $7.9 million qualifying offer. The Warriors have a standing offer of two years and $45 million with a team option for the second season, but they want Kuminga to waive the automatic no-trade clause that would accompany the deal; he has declined.
Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami echoed that stance, writing that multiple sources do not expect Kuminga to be moved this summer. Should extension talks stall, Golden State could explore trades during the 2025-26 campaign or risk losing the 22-year-old forward in unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Source: Basketball Insiders
