Steph Curry
Getty
Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors is a four-time NBA champion.
The Golden State Warriors have reportedly made their position clear on one potential trade scenario that’s been circulating through NBA circles for weeks. Despite multiple reports suggesting renewed dialogue about bringing Andrew Wiggins back to the Bay Area, the franchise has no interest in pursuing a reunion with their former wing.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors haven’t engaged with the Miami Heat about Wiggins and don’t plan to. That contradicts earlier speculation from multiple NBA insiders who suggested Golden State was exploring frameworks that would send Jonathan Kuminga to Miami in exchange for Wiggins.
The February 5 trade deadline is one week away. The Warriors are facing critical decisions about their roster construction, particularly after losing Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL tear. But a Wiggins reunion isn’t part of their solution.
Why the Warriors Aren’t Interested
Andrew Wiggins
GettyAndrew Wiggins of the Miami Heat won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
Golden State sent Wiggins to Miami last February as part of the Butler blockbuster. The deal cost them Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a first-round pick.
Wiggins turns 30 in February and is owed $26.3 million next season with a player option for 2026-27 worth $27.7 million. Those aren’t prohibitive numbers for a productive two-way wing, but they don’t align with what the Warriors need right now. Golden State is focused on maximizing Stephen Curry‘s remaining prime years while also positioning the roster for sustained success beyond his eventual decline.
Wiggins has been solid for Miami this season, averaging 15.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. He provides steady defense on the wing. But steady isn’t enough for a Warriors team that lost realistic championship contention when Butler went down.
The Warriors’ focus has shifted toward bigger swings. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains their primary target, and the Milwaukee Bucks are now taking calls from teams interested in the two-time MVP. That’s the level of impact player Golden State is pursuing, not a reunion with a familiar face who doesn’t fundamentally alter their trajectory.
The Jonathan Kuminga Factor
GettyJonathan Kuminga #1 of the Golden State Warriors.
Miami reportedly wanted Kuminga last February when the Butler trade went down. The Heat pushed hard to include the 23-year-old forward in the package, but Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy refused. Golden State sent Wiggins instead, apparently viewing Kuminga as too valuable to include in a deal for a player they knew Miami needed to move.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, confirmed Miami’s pursuit during an appearance on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dubs Talk podcast last spring. The Heat asked for Kuminga repeatedly, Turner said, but the Warriors weren’t budging.
Nearly a year later, Kuminga’s situation has changed dramatically. He demanded a trade on January 15 after weeks of sporadic playing time under Steve Kerr. The relationship between player and coach appears fractured beyond repair. Golden State is exploring his trade market, with the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks among the interested teams, per ESPN.
Miami’s continued interest in Kuminga makes sense. He’s young, controllable, and represents the kind of upside swing a rebuilding team should pursue. But the framework that would send him to South Florida in exchange for Wiggins reportedly doesn’t appeal to Golden State. If the Warriors move Kuminga, it will be for a player who meaningfully upgrades their championship odds or for draft capital that helps build the post-Curry era.
What the Warriors Are Actually Pursuing
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GettyThe Golden State Warriors could be back in the hunt in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he’s ready to be moved before the deadline.
Butler’s injury forced Golden State to recalibrate its deadline approach. Before he went down, the front office was exploring smaller-scale upgrades using Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary to boost a surging team they believed was a fringe contender.
That plan evaporated the moment Butler tore his ACL. Team sources told ESPN their approach is now more future focused. They’re not shopping Butler’s contract despite the injury, but everything is theoretically on the table in an Antetokounmpo conversation. Butler’s nearly $57 million salary next season makes him a necessary matching piece in any blockbuster deal for the two-time MVP.
Golden State can offer up to four first-round picks in a potential Antetokounmpo trade. That gives them one of the deepest draft portfolios among contending teams. Whether Milwaukee moves Antetokounmpo before the deadline or prefers to wait until the summer remains uncertain, but the Warriors are positioned to make an aggressive offer if the opportunity materializes.
Beyond Antetokounmpo, the Warriors have maintained interest in New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. But the Pelicans’ front office has shown no willingness to move core young players.
Final Word
The Warriors reportedly shutting down Wiggins reunion talk is telling. It reveals a front office that understands the difference between nostalgia and strategic roster construction. Wiggins was a valuable contributor during Golden State’s 2022 championship run, but bringing him back now doesn’t solve any of their actual problems.
Curry is 37 years old and playing at an elite level. The clock is ticking. Golden State needs a star-level acquisition or a thoughtful pivot toward building the next competitive core. A Wiggins reunion accomplishes neither of those goals.
Dunleavy has one week to determine if an impact trade exists. If not, the Warriors will likely stand pat and reassess in the summer when the market expands and more teams become willing sellers.