Heading into the 2025-2026 NBA season, Jonathan Kuminga was viewed as a potential trade block candidate for the Golden State Warriors. Considering the contract drama that took place over the summer, many have assumed it could only be a matter of time before Kuminga and the Warriors part ways.
In the eyes of the former All-Star Jeff Teague, he believes that scenario will play out soon enough.
"Time to go," Teague said of Kuminga earlier this week. "Time to go."
Teague's comments came after the Warriors had Kuminga come off the bench for the first time this season. Through his first 12 games of the season, Kuminga averaged 29 minutes of playing time as a starter. Against the San Antonio Spurs, Kuminga came off the bench for 12 minutes in the 125-120 win.
Lately, Kuminga has been dealing with a setback, which kept him off the court entirely on November 14 in a rematch against the Spurs. Teague and the Club 520 show seem to think that Kuminga's role will remain minimized, since the Warriors have won back-to-back games with Kuminga in a diminished role.
"He's going to start at Sacramento-Sabonis is on his way," Teague stated. "Kuminga to the Kings."
As Kuminga and the Warriors were having stalled contract discussions over the summer, the Sacramento Kings were viewed as potential sign-and-trade candidates for the veteran forward on multiple occasions. Eventually, Kuminga agreed to a short-term deal with the Warriors, which prevents him from getting traded until after the new year.
While the Kings backed off, they are known to have their eyes on Kuminga still. Sacramento could be the ideal landing spot for the forward. In his 12 games as a starter, Kuminga has made 48 percent of his shots from the field, scoring 14.9 points per game. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists.
Since landing in the league in 2021, Kuminga has been a valuable piece for Golden State. However, it's evident he wants an increased role, and it's not exactly clear if the Warriors can give him that, considering they have a handful of core players on the roster who are higher on the pecking order.
Kuminga's trade market won't open until later on in the year, but Teague is confident that scenario will be something to keep an eye on as the season plays out. If Kuminga gets moved, Teague seems to believe that Sabonis just might be in the mix.
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