The Golden State Warriors don’t want to play Jonathan Kuminga and Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t want to play for the Golden State Warriors.
The breakup seems to be inevitable — with the Sacramento Kings waiting in the wings as a willing suitor for Kuminga’s services — but the Warriors just won’t let go.
ESPN reported that Kuminga demanded a trade Thursday, the day he became trade eligible after signing a two-year, $46.8 million contract to return to Golden State on Sept. 30. Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season as the two sides tried to repair a fractured relationship, but he has since fallen out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation, further alienating the 23-year-old forward.
Kerr did not play Kuminga for the 14th consecutive game in Thursday’s 126-113 victory over the New York Knicks. During his pregame press conference, Kerr was asked about Kuminga’s trade demand and the nature of their relationship.
“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr told reporters at Chase Center in San Francisco. “There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It is what it is. Difficult situation for everybody. Part of this league, part of the job, so we just keep moving forward, but it’s a tough situation and I don’t really have much to add.”
The Kings are still intrigued by the idea of bringing Kuminga to Sacramento, where general manager Scott Perry is working to overhaul an aging and imbalanced roster. The Kings have been trying to acquire Kuminga since he entered restricted free agency over the summer, but they have been unable to reach an agreement with the Warriors.
At every turn, the Kings have been viewed as the most serious suitor for Kuminga, but the Warriors have been steadfast in trying to maximize the value of their return for a player they don’t seem to value.
At one point, the Kings offered Malik Monk and a top-12 protected first-round draft pick, but sources told The Athletic that Sacramento is no longer willing to offer a first-round pick. The Warriors are not interested in Monk, who has two years remaining on a four-year, $78 million contract, so the Kings will likely need to find a third team to facilitate a trade for Kuminga.
Given the way the saga has played out, Kuminga has lost value and the Warriors have lost leverage. The Warriors seem to be signaling a willingness to keep Kuminga past the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline if they can’t find the right return, but ESPN reported that rival executives believe they are bluffing.
At 23-19, the Warriors are eighth in the Western Conference after entering the season with championship aspirations. They need another piece to become a real contender, and the clock is ticking for a team that is built around 37-year-old Steph Curry, 36-year-old Jimmy Butler, 35-year-old Draymond Green.