Jonathan Kuminga is the saga that will seemingly never end for the Golden State Warriors, and while they had a chance to move the 23-year-old forward at multiple points over the past year, he remains on the team just a month before the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
However, with the trade deadline approaching, trade rumors surrounding Kuminga, as well as the Warriors as a whole, have heated up over the past few weeks. While reports over the summer hinted that he had limited value around the league, the latest update on the wing signals that new trade suitors have emerged.
Reporting for Yahoo Sports, NBA insider Kevin O’Connor wrote that three teams have stood out in recent Kuminga trade rumors.
“League sources told Yahoo Sports at least three other teams have been linked to Kuminga: the Blazers, Pelicans and Wizards,” he wrote in an article discussing the future of Golden State in what is expected to be the final chapter of Stephen Curry’s illustrious career.
After signing his extension over the summer, Kuminga can officially be traded starting on January 15th. However, the Warriors will only have until the February 5th trade deadline to make a deal.
New Suitors Emerge In Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors
Previously, while he was in a stalemate with the Bay Area franchise over the summer in hopes of either signing a new deal or being dealt elsewhere, three teams were reportedly in the mix for the forward: Sacramento, Phoenix, and Chicago.
According to O’Connor, Golden State didn’t like the return packages the Kings and Suns had to offer, while trade talks with the Bulls simmered out.
But now, the Blazers, Pelicans, and Wizards are in the mix, according to O’Connor’s latest report, with each team having a lot of different options for the Warriors in return for Kuminga and whoever else they offer up.
“Hypothetically, Portland has Jerami Grant or Jrue Holiday to realistically offer in a trade,” the insider wrote. “New Orleans offers the best prizes though in [Trey] Murphy and Herb Jones. Dunleavy should try to get both. Murphy is a versatile 6-foot-8 defender and an elite, high-volume shooter who would thrive in the Kerr motion offense. Jones is a terrifying defensive presence who could take the toughest perimeter assignment off Draymond’s aging shoulders.”
While he didn’t mention a potential return from Washington, CJ McCollum or a few other rotational players would be the most likely outcome if they traded for Kuminga.
The past year hasn’t been easy for Kuminga or the Warriors, but at the same time, Golden State wants to elevate his trade value, and head coach Steve Kerr has chosen not to put the 23-year-old consistently in the lineup.
That has proved to be a shot in the foot as they battle to stay above .500.
Warriors Trade Rumors As The Deadline Approaches
Along with just the teams that could be possibly interested in Kuminga, the Warriors have been consistently mentioned in NBA trade rumors in general as the deadline approaches.
O’Connor, as well as Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, entertained the idea of a deal that sent Kuminga to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. Both cited him as a perfect fit for the flailing Golden State team with his size and shooting ability, but with Kuminga’s drop in play this season, the Nets would likely want more assets in a potential deal.
In the same vein is the potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. While that now seems unlikely, considering the Bucks appear to be buyers at the deadline rather than sellers, Golden State would need to include Kuminga and Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, along with a few other assets, whether it be picks or players.
“One of [Butler or Green] would have to go if the Warriors had a chance to land Giannis Antetokounmpo anyway, with Butler’s $48.7 million salary being a perfect match for a deal,” O’Connor added.
However, tying all of the recent Warriors trade rumors together is a report by Evan Sidery of Forbes. In posts on X, Sidery wrote that Golden State is open to the idea of trading Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. While not the hottest commodities in the trade market, the young players could tie together a deal that could potentially see someone like Grant, Jones, or Murphy arrive in Golden State.
Regardless of what happens in the next month, the Warriors need to act quick if they are serious about at least trying to win another title with Curry, because the current roster is not getting the job done.
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