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Jonathan Kuminga Trade Halted After Warriors’ Refusal to Include Two Players

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Golden State Warriors

Sacramento Kings

Aug 4, 2025 6:44 PM EDT

The Jonathan Kuminga saga has only continued for the Golden State Warriors. The Sacramento Kings want to add the NBA Champion to their roster, but Golden State holds all the cards in any negotiation because of Kuminga’s status as a restricted free agent.

The Warriors have not been proactively trying to retain Kuminga, but that’s because they don’t have to. No matter who Kuminga signs with, Golden State can simply match the offer sheet, so teams are hesitant to sign restricted free agents, period, let alone Kuminga. The Kings have tried to work around this. The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported what they have offered to the Warriors for Kuminga.

“As for the Kings, which last spoke with the Warriors earlier this week, team sources say they’ve offered a three-year, $63 million deal for Kuminga in a proposal that would send veteran guard Malik Monk and their 2030 first-round pick (lottery protected) to the Warriors,” Amick wrote in an August 1 story.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) — Source: © Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

There’s another wrinkle in why the Warriors and the Kings can’t find common ground in a Kuminga trade. Amick explained that Golden State also refuses to part ways with two players in a potential swap with the Kings, as trading one would get a deal done.

“A quick (and belated) follow-up on the Jonathan Kuminga reporting from Friday: Anyone saying the first-round pick protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors sign-and-trade is wrong, as I’m told Golden State really doesn’t want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody (which would be required),” Amick wrote.

“And yes, as (The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami) reported, the Warriors are indeed signaling that they expect Kuminga to be on their roster next season. That being said, nearly two months remain before his qualifying offer deadline (Oct. 1). Plenty of time for something to change here.”

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Hield played for the Kings from 2017 to 2022, during which time he put up the best scoring numbers of his career, averaging as many as 20.7 points per game during the 2018-19 season. Trading him or Moody, along with Kuminga, runs the risk of potentially making Sacramento better than Golden State would want.

If a Kuminga trade happens between the Kings and Warriors, it appears there would be plenty of moving parts involved, which is why, as Amick wrote, this all may end with Kuminga back in Golden State. However, for how long would be the real question.

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Matt John