Jonathan Kuminga formally requested a trade from the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, coinciding with the first day his contract allowed him to be moved, league sources told ESPN. The NBA trade deadline is on February 5.
The fifth-year forward signed a two-year, $46.8 million deal during the offseason preventing any trade until mid-January. The agreement also features a team option for the second year.
Kuminga’s time with Golden State has reached a critical low point. After beginning the season as a starter for the opening 12 games, with Steve Kerr publicly endorsing him as a fixture in that role, consecutive poor performances resulted in his removal from the rotation entirely.
The 23-year-old has been completely absent from game action over the Warriors’ last 13 contests. Kerr relegated him to the end of the bench, and Kuminga subsequently listed himself as unavailable due to back discomfort just one hour before a January 2 matchup with Oklahoma City despite Kerr’s stated intention to utilize him that evening.
Sources within the organization indicate virtually everyone involved recognizes a trade before the deadline represents the optimal outcome. This consensus extends from Kuminga himself to Kerr to veteran players frustrated by watching a player earning $22.5 million contribute nothing while the team struggles to find consistency.
“I’m disappointed for him that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks,” Kerr acknowledged in a recent media session.
Golden State engaged in difficult contract discussions with Kuminga throughout the offseason. The resulting deal’s framework, which sources say Kuminga believed he had no choice but to accept, created additional friction between the player and team leadership but provided the Warriors with a tradeable asset heading into deadline season.
Mike Dunleavy and the front office have actively explored the market for Kuminga in recent weeks. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have expressed interest in acquiring the versatile wing, league sources confirmed, though additional franchises remain engaged due to the contract’s advantageous structure.
The $24.3 million team option for 2026-27 provides flexibility for acquiring teams. They can decline it to create an expiring contract, use it as matching salary in subsequent moves, or keep Kuminga as a calculated gamble on a 6-foot-7 wing who posted 24.3 points per game on 55.6 percent shooting during the Warriors’ playoff series against Minnesota last spring.
Golden State has prioritized acquiring expiring contracts in exchange for Kuminga, sources said. The organization has rejected proposals involving long-term salary commitments unless the return represents undeniable positive value.
This approach has stalled discussions with Sacramento. The Warriors will not accept the three remaining years and $60.4 million owed to Malik Monk, though Keon Ellis and his affordable expiring deal could potentially enhance any package.
The Warriors have not engaged the Brooklyn Nets regarding Michael Porter Jr. in over a month and never seriously considered pursuing him, league sources indicated. While Golden State previously showed interest in Trey Murphy III, New Orleans has declined all inquiries about their young wings.
Should an elite player become available, the Warriors would consider including multiple first-round selections, team sources acknowledged. The franchise values its 2028 and later picks more highly than their 2026 selection.
Despite the obvious tension, Warriors decision-makers have provided no guarantees to interested teams that Kuminga will be moved before February 5. They believe waiting until summer could prove more beneficial from a business perspective. Rival executives view this posturing as strategic maneuvering and expect Kuminga to be dealt.