Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
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Jonathan Kuminga reacts during a Warriors game as the team draws a firm line in ongoing trade talks around his future.
The Golden State Warriors can finally trade Jonathan Kuminga.
As of January 15, Kuminga became trade eligible per the terms of the contract he signed this summer. The Warriors have until the February 5 trade deadline to find a new home for the forward who demanded a trade on the first day he was allowed to be moved.
The situation has been awkward for everyone involved. Kuminga has not played since December 18 against the Phoenix Suns. He has been a healthy scratch for nearly a month while remaining with the team and participating in practices.
Former NBA guard and current NBC Sports analyst Austin Rivers weighed in on the situation during a recent episode of his podcast, Off Guard. And he did not hold back.
Austin Rivers Rips the Warriors’ Handling of Jonathan Kuminga
Rivers made it clear he believes the Warriors have mishandled Kuminga.
“The Jonathan Kuminga situation is complete bullsh*t,” Rivers said on his podcast. “The way they have treated Kuminga is something that I haven’t seen in quite a while. This is a 20-point per game caliber player. I know this because he’s done it. When guys were hurt, he literally averaged 20 plus for a month and some change.”
Rivers pointed to Kuminga’s ability to score when given opportunities. He referenced a playoff game last season when Kuminga came off the bench and scored 30 points.
“Kuminga is a freak talent and athlete!” Rivers continued. “How the hell can this guy not get a minute on a sorry ass Warriors team?! It drives me crazy!”
Rivers questioned why Kuminga sits while other rotation players get minutes.
“I’m watching Podziemski, Moody, a bunch of other random ass players and those guys are good. Pat Spencer plays before Kuminga! He hasn’t played in 14 games. He’s 6-foot-8 and is a scorer. The Warriors half the time struggle scoring and they have a 20 point per game player who sits at the end of the bench because the coach don’t like him.”
Rivers suggested the situation has become personal, claiming he has inside knowledge through connections to Kuminga’s camp.
NBA Courtside
Austin Rivers says the Jonathan Kuminga situation is bull sh*t and personal
“This is a 20 point per game caliber player. I know this because he’s done it. He is a freak talent and athlete. How the hell can this guy not get a minute on a sorry a** Warriors team? It drives me
The Fit Problem Is Real
Rivers’ frustration is understandable. But the reality is more complicated.
Kuminga does not fit alongside Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. All three are non-shooters. Playing them together clogs the paint and limits spacing for Stephen Curry.
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged this after the Warriors acquired Butler. The team needed to find a balance between playing Kuminga and ensuring the offense functioned properly. That balance was never found.
Kuminga started the first 12 games of the season. Kerr called him a secure starter. But when the production dipped, Kerr demoted him. Once Kuminga was out of the rotation, he never worked his way back in.
The Warriors tried different lineups. They adjusted rotations. But the fit never clicked. The offense stalled when Kuminga, Butler, and Green shared the floor.
Kuminga is not blameless. His decision-making and shot selection have been inconsistent. His three-point shooting remains a question mark. And his defensive effort has fluctuated.
But the bigger issue is the front office’s failure to address the situation before it reached this point.
The Warriors Tried to Run Two Timelines and Failed at Both
Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
GettyJonathan Kuminga watches Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors do his “Night Night” celebration.
The Warriors created this mess. But the problem started years ago.
They could have traded Kuminga at any point over the last 2-3 years when his value was significantly higher. Before he became a restricted free agent. Well before the fit issues with Butler became obvious. Before his stock dropped to the point where only the Sacramento Kings showed real interest.
Instead, they held on. The front office believed Kuminga was a building block for the future while Curry was still leading the team. They tried to balance two competing priorities—maximizing Curry’s remaining prime years while preparing for life after him.
They failed at both.
The Warriors are stuck in the middle. Not good enough to compete for a championship. Not bad enough to justify a rebuild. Mediocre.
The most frustrating part is the timing. Curry won a championship in 2022. He was still in his prime. The window was open. That was the moment to go all-in.
But the front office did not do that. Instead, they started preparing for a future without Curry while he was still playing at an MVP level. They prioritized developing young players like Kuminga over maximizing the championship window.
And now, both timelines have blown up in their faces.
How the Front Office Mismanaged the Kuminga Situation
Joe Lacob, Warriors
GettyGolden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
Kuminga, who was supposed to be the cornerstone of the post-Curry era, is demanding a trade.
His value has deteriorated. The Warriors will likely not get a return that helps Curry compete now. The young core has not developed into championship-caliber players. And Curry is 37 years old, running out of time.
This summer, the Warriors spent months in contentious contract negotiations with Kuminga. They brought him back on a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a team option on the second season. The structure was designed to create a tradeable contract at the deadline.
Kuminga told those around him that he felt forced into signing. That soured his relationship with management before the season started.
The front office knew the fit with Butler and Green was problematic. They knew Kuminga would struggle to find minutes. And they knew the situation had the potential to become contentious.
But they did not act decisively.
They could have traded Kuminga when his value was higher. They could have committed to him as a long-term piece. Or they could have been upfront about the plan to move him at the deadline.
Instead, they brought him back, started him for 12 games, demoted him, and then benched him entirely. They let the situation fester for weeks. And now they are scrambling to find a trade partner.
The Warriors’ front office failed to commit to a timeline. They tried to win now and build for the future at the same time. That approach rarely works.
Rivers is right to criticize the Warriors. But the criticism should be directed at the front office, not just the coaching staff. Kerr is managing a roster that does not fit together. The real failure is that the front office put him in that position.
Final Word for the Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
GettyJonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga has not played in nearly a month.
Austin Rivers called the situation “complete bullsh*t,” and he is not entirely wrong. The Warriors have mishandled this from start to finish.
The problem is that the front office never had a clear plan. They could have traded him years ago when his value was at its peak. The organization could have gone all-in on Curry after 2022. They could have committed to building around Kuminga for the future.
Instead, they tried to do both and accomplished neither.
Now, the Warriors are trying to trade a player whose value has dropped, whose relationship with the organization has deteriorated, and whose future has been in limbo for months.
That is a failure of leadership. And it is the front office, not Kuminga or Kerr, that deserves the blame.