Golden State Warriors‘ restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga is open to the idea of moving to their Pacific Division rival Sacramento Kings, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reports.
According to Slater, the Kings’ pitch was everything Kuminga wanted to hear and get from the Warriors.
“Kuminga had contact with the Kings in the last couple of days, and it’s the first time he’s met (general manager) Scott Perry,” Slater said on ESPN 1320 Sacramento. “It wasn’t in person, but it’s the first time he’s communicated with Scott Perry, (coach) Doug Christie, and (assistant general manager) B.J. Armstrong. From what I gathered, he liked the pitch that Scott Perry gave. He’s open-minded to the idea of Sacramento.”
The Kings brass pitched a starting role for Kuminga, which the Warriors aren’t necessarily offering right now, according to Slater.
“Jonathan Kuminga isn’t just looking for the exact contract that he wants. He’s looking for the opportunity that he wants on the court,” Slater added.
The 22-year-old forward wants to build on his strong showing to end last season.
Kuminga averaged 24.3 points on 55.4% shooting and 38.9% from the 3-point line during the final four games of their second-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Getty Jonathan Kuminga watches Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors do his “Night Night” celebration.
However, it came without Stephen Curry, who suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1. Kuminga was not part of the Warriors’ rotation and only played big minutes in games that Jimmy Butler (glute) and Curry missed.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr offered a significant but situational role to Kuminga, similar to what transpired during the postseason, in recent weeks,” Slater reported.
“Kerr has been one of the leading voices trying to patch things together, sources said,” Slater wrote.
Warriors Want 2 Kings Players
Getty Devin Carter of the Sacramento Kings in action during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets.
But while Kuminga liked what he heard from the Kings, no deal is imminent as the Warriors rejected what they believed was an underwhelming offer.
Previously, the Kings offered Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and two second-round picks for Kuminga, according to Slater. But the Warriors did not budge.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, forward Keegan Murray and defensive-minded guard Keon Ellis are the two players the Warriors “would likely want” in a potential sign-and-trade with their in-division rivals.
“However, the Kings have given zero indications that they will part ways with either player, especially given the notion that Kuminga wants out,” Siegel wrote on July 24.
Kuminga Not in a Rush to Make a Decision
Kuminga’s restricted free agency has essentially put the Warriors’ offseason on pause, according to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania.
“They have wanted to figure out his situation before making their other offseason moves,” Charania said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on July 24. “I saw Jonathan Kuminga this morning at a workout in Miami. He’s in good spirits. He had a good workout.”
However, Kuminga told Charania that he is in “absolutely no rush on doing a deal with the Warriors right now” while mulling all options, including a sign-and-trade that is available in the market.
The Warriors remain the only NBA team that has not made a single move in free agency, with only nine players under contract for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Kuminga and the Warriors are far apart in extension talks, just like last year when they did not come to terms and let the former No. 7 pick go into the season without a new contract.
So, here they are still trying to sort out things that have been dragging on and holding off the Warriors’ other free agency moves.
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