Jonathan Kuminga, Rob Pelinka
Jonathan Kuminga wants out of the Golden State Warriors organization, but the timing and the destination remain unresolved. What changed Thursday was clarity. Kuminga officially became trade eligible, and almost immediately, a new team entered the conversation in a meaningful way, per NBC Sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers have “some interest” in Kuminga, according to a joint report from The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II, Sam Amick and Nick Friedell. The report cited league and team sources and noted that while talks are not guaranteed, the Lakers’ curiosity is real.
More notably, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka is described as a fan of Kuminga and likes the idea of him as an athletic wing alongside Luka Doncic. The Warriors, per the report, have long been aware of the Lakers’ likeness for Kuminga, even as the likelihood of an in-season deal between the two rivals remains uncertain.
Kuminga’s Officially Wants Out
Kuminga did not waste time once he became eligible to be moved. League sources confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson that the 23-year-old forward formally demanded a trade Thursday morning. The decision followed another stretch in which Kuminga fell out of head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, a familiar pattern during a season that has stalled his development.
Golden State has shown openness to moving Kuminga but has resisted acting out of desperation. The organization understands the Lakers’ interest and plans to monitor the market rather than rush into a deal that fails to align with its broader goals.
For months, the Sacramento Kings appeared to be the most persistent suitor. That dynamic has shifted. Veteran guard Malik Monk surfaced in prior discussions, but the offseason framework that included Monk and a 2030 first-round pick no longer exists. According to The Athletic, Sacramento is no longer willing to include the pick, cooling momentum between the sides.
Meanwhile, alternative possibilities have begun to circulate. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported that the Lakers would consider packaging Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt in a deal for a wing, Basket News reports. Another construction could involve Vincent and Maxi Kleber. Dalton Knecht was not named directly, but league chatter suggests he could factor into broader conversations.
Why a Deal Makes Sense Now
Kuminga’s contract situation adds urgency. The Warriors hold a team option on his second season, and he projects as a $23.4 million expiring contract this summer. That type of financial flexibility often appeals to teams seeking optionality rather than long-term commitments.
From Golden State’s perspective, waiting carries risk. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler continue to perform at elite levels, and the Warriors sit in an uncomfortable middle ground. Allowing a tradable asset of Kuminga’s magnitude to remain unused on the bench while the team fights for play-in positioning creates tension between short-term competitiveness and long-term planning.
Standing idle would signal asset mismanagement. The Warriors have clarity on what Curry and Butler still provide. Incremental help matters more than theoretical value, especially when the status quo benefits neither side.
The Lakers, for their part, view Kuminga as a potential fit rather than a finished product. Pelinka’s reported interest underscores a belief in Kuminga’s athletic profile and upside within a Doncic-led framework. That belief alone does not guarantee action, but it places Los Angeles squarely among the teams worth monitoring.
The next three weeks could reshape the market. More teams could emerge now that Kuminga’s availability is no longer theoretical. What no longer feels ambiguous is his standing in Golden State. His role diminished, his request delivered, and his contract ticking toward expiration.
Change often arrives quickly in the NBA. For Kuminga and the Warriors, movement feels less like an option and more like an inevitability.