Jonathan Kuminga trade rumors, Steve Kerr Kuminga comments, Golden State Warriors trade rumors, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Warriors trade targets, NBA trade rumors, NBA trade deadline, Jonathan Kuminga distraction
Steve Kerr and the top stars of the Golden State Warriors got brutally honest on the future and trade rumors surrounding Jonathan Kuminga.
After months, even years, of an uncertain future with the Golden State Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga expects, and wants, to be traded before the upcoming February 5th trade deadline in a saga and story that has taken over the team and the NBA as a whole.
However, whileKuminga’s future with the team has yet tobe fully decided on, Warriors head coach Steve Kerrdoesn’t think the mass trade rumors surrounding the 23-year-old’s name will be a distraction for Golden State over the next few weeks.
Speaking after their win over the New York Knicks, Kerr said in his postgame press conference that Kuminga has handled the entire situation well, and though nobody has direct, or at least public, knowledge of whenhe’ll be traded, his uncertain futurewon’t affect the teamgoing forward.
“Itwon’t be a distraction,”Kerr said. “Jonathan’s a great young guy. His teammates like him.He’s handling himself well. Therewon’t be a distraction.”
The documented relationship between the Warriors’ head coach and Kumingahasn’t been great over the past few months, ever since he signed an extension to return to the Bay Area over the summer. Kerrhasn’t played Kuminga in over a month, and while citing not a great fit within their current rotation, all indications point to hisDNP’s as a result of an impending trade.
Steve Kerr, Warriors Players Speak On Jonathan Kuminga
Amid all the trade rumors and reports, Kerr hasstayed firm that hedoesn’t believe Kuminga fitswell on theWarriors’current roster. While he has cited the wing taking the consistent benching in stride, there has clearly been a rift between the two for some time now.
“Our relationship is fine,”Kerr added, according to The Athletic. “There’s not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. Just is what it is, a difficult situation for everybody. Part of this league, part of the job.So wejust keep moving forward, but tough situation. Idon’t really have much to add.”
Kuminga last played on December 18th, and in the year has only put up averages of 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 43.1% shooting in 18 games, all of which are down from last year.
“So for all our young guys, not just JK, I talk about that a lot, that you always just want to put yourself in the best position to be ready for the opportunity when it comes,” Kerr said. “Sometimes it’s gonna come and sometimes it’s not and you just have to be prepared for all of that.”
While his impending trade status, as well as the package Golden State couldget back for the 23-year-old,remain one of the biggest storylines in the NBA, franchise centerpiece Stephen Curry, like Kerr,doesn’t think the situation or the player will be a distraction.
Steph Curry on the persistent Jonathan Kuminga trade chatter: “It’s not a distraction at all. It’s a very unique situation. Our job is to keep playing, keep winning. It’ll resolve itself one way or the other.” pic.twitter.com/dQXD0EQqLb
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 16, 2026
Both Curry and Draymond Green said that didn’t think Kuminga and his situation will be a distraction for the team, so long as he continues to handle things how he has so far.
Kuminga himselfhasn’t addressed the media in two weeks, and when he did in the past, he remainedrather mum on his status and future on the team. Yet still, thatdidn’t stop Jimmy Butler from praising him amid all the speculation.
“We love JK in this locker room.That’s not gonna change. If he happens to not be in here, we still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. Idon’t care, I speak for everybody,”Butler said. “We love the guy.I wish him the best here, Iwish him the best wherever. Doesn’t change. Wedon’t listen to the noise, I hope hedon’t listen to the noise. He keep coming in here with a smile, doing whathe’s supposed to do and being the ultimate pro.”
While they might not see him as a distraction right now, that could very well change as the days count down to the February 5th trade deadline.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors
Several teams have been linked to Kuminga in trade rumors over the past few months,and specifically in the past few weeks, now that he is eligible to bemoved.
While the Sacramento Kings could likely still be the most interested, the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in the wing player.
The Kings could likely offer up Keon Ellis and Malik Monk for Kuminga, but according to insider Jake Fischer, Golden Stateisn’t interested in the latter. In a move that has a better chance to put the Warriors in title contention,they’ve been eyeing Trey Murphy from New Orleans, but the asking price for him might be too high, considering the Warriors would likely have to give up Kuminga and a few other assets for the 3-and-D star.
In a deal with the Lakers, Golden State probablywouldn’t get back anything that would vault them into title contention. It feels nearly impossible that Los Angeles would trade Austin Reaves for Kuminga, and while they could send out Rui Hachimura, thathasn’t been the type of player the Warriors have been eyeing over the past few months.
Though initially intriguing, a deal sending Kuminga to the Brooklyn Nets for Michael Porter Jr. now appears off the table, considering his drastic performance improvement this season.
The Warriors have consistentlysaid they have no plansof trading either Butler or Green, and with each on a relatively large contract, that puts them in amajor bind regarding trade deadline additions.
It’s hard to gaugeKuminga’s current trade value considering Kerr has left him on the bench for the past month, but all signs point to Golden State continuing to scour the trade market for the best deal possible.