The Golden State Warriors are facing a pivotal decision with Jonathan Kuminga, and the clock may already be ticking.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the 22-year-old restricted free agent is leaning toward signing the Warriors’ $7.9 million qualifying offer. While that would keep him in Golden State for the upcoming season, it would also set the stage for him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, where the Warriors risk losing him for nothing.
That scenario has some around the league suggesting Golden State should cash in while they still can. On “Sactown Sports,” radio host Allen Stiles predicted that the Warriors will eventually give in to Kuminga’s trade request and send him to his preferred destination: the Sacramento Kings.
“It is safe to say that the Sacramento Kings do believe, or at least they hope that’s going to be the case,” Stiles said. “That Jonathan Kuminga will continue to say, ‘I’m going to sign that qualifying offer.’ And at the buzzer, the Golden State Warriors will say, ‘Alright, well, we can’t afford to lose him for nothing, and Malik Monk and a protected pick — that’s much better than nothing. So let’s go ahead, do the deal, and be done with it.’”
The Kings’ Push
Getty Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
Sacramento has already tested Golden State’s resolve with multiple offers. The Kings’ latest proposal — Monk and a protected first-round pick — marked a significant improvement from their initial package of rookie Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and two second-round picks, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
Still, the Warriors remain unmoved.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported on Aug. 11 that even if Sacramento lifted the protections on the draft pick, Golden State would still balk. The reason? Salary-cap complications.
“Trading Kuminga for Monk straight up would hard cap the Warriors at the first apron, and the only way they could prevent such is by trading either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody as well,” Siegel reported. “The Warriors do not want to trade either player in a sign-and-trade proposal involving Kuminga this offseason.”
Amick confirmed that both Hield and Moody are staying put, which further complicates any deal.
Monk is entering Year 2 of his four-year, $78 million extension with the Kings. He was the runner-up to Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid for the Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2023-24 season.
Kuminga Wants Out
While the Warriors play hardball, Kuminga’s stance has only hardened. Andscape’s senior NBA writer Marc J. Spears reported earlier this summer that Kuminga wants out of Golden State, with Sacramento at the top of his wish list.
After a Zoom meeting with Kings general manager Scott Perry, assistant GM BJ Armstrong, and coach Doug Christie, Kuminga was convinced Sacramento could offer him what Golden State would not: a clear starting role.
“He wants to go [to Sacramento],” Spears reported. “The Kings are offering a starting spot, as the power forward, next to Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.”
As ESPN’s Shams Charania previously noted, those two promises — significant playing time and a starting job — are the priorities Kuminga values “more than anything.”
Rising Confidence
Kuminga believes he’s earned the chance.
In the Warriors’ playoff series against the Timberwolves, he averaged 24.3 points on 55.4 percent shooting and 38.9 percent from deep over the final four games while Stephen Curry was sidelined. That dominant stretch has fueled his confidence heading into the offseason.
Now, Golden State faces a stark choice: hold on to Kuminga and risk losing him for nothing in 2026, or make a deal that could empower both sides to move forward. For the Warriors, the dilemma underscores the delicate balance between chasing another title with their veteran core and planning for the future.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Warriors Predicted to Trade Jonathan Kuminga for 6th MOY Finalist appeared first on Heavy Sports.