Thirteen days. That's how long until Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible on January 15th. And if you believe the whispers circulating through NBA front offices, the 23-year-old forward won't be wearing a Warriors uniform much longer after that date arrives.
The relationship between Kuminga and Golden State has deteriorated to a point where separation feels inevitable. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, rival executives "do not expect Jonathan Kuminga to still be a member of the Golden State Warriors past the trade deadline." Multiple sources confirm he's had "numerous meetings" with head coach Steve Kerr that haven't resolved their fundamental disagreements.
What went wrong
Kuminga's season started with promise. Through his first nine games, he averaged 17.2 points on 51.4% shooting with 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Those numbers suggested the leap everyone anticipated was finally happening.
Then it fell apart. Since November 7th, Kuminga has averaged just 6.3 points on 31.1% shooting in nine appearances. He's missed 13 games during that stretch, and Kerr has kept him on the bench in five of the last seven contests—even when healthy.
"JK is a guy who needs his rhythm," Kerr acknowledged recently. "He's not a Gui Santos who's going to come in and fly around with great energy for four minutes and come out. He needs some rhythm. There's a pathway here, but right now, it's not there."
Translation: there isn't a role for Kuminga in this rotation.
Who wants him?
The Sacramento Kings remain interested, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. They pursued Kuminga aggressively during his restricted free agency last summer, though the Warriors weren't satisfied with return packages centered around Malik Monk.
Dallas has emerged as a new suitor. The Mavericks explored including Kuminga in a package for Anthony Davis, though that specific framework fell through when Golden State refused to include Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler to make salaries work.
The Indiana Pacers have quietly scouted Kuminga since last season. The Phoenix Suns showed interest during the summer but have reportedly cooled. Brooklyn, according to Heavy Sports' Sean Deveney, has "never been enamored with" Kuminga.
ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reports the Warriors are "working several angles" to move Kuminga and "will have a deal to move him before the deadline."
The uncomfortable contract math
Golden State signed Kuminga to a two-year, $48.5 million deal in late September, ending a tense summer of negotiations. The structure tells you everything about how both sides viewed the relationship: Kuminga earns $22.5 million this season with a $24.3 million team option for 2026-27.
That team option is designed to be torn up and renegotiated—whether by the Warriors or by whoever acquires him. As part of the deal, Kuminga waived his implicit no-trade clause. The Warriors essentially paid him to become tradeable.
His current $22.5 million salary is large enough to anchor a meaningful trade package but not so large that it limits potential destinations. For acquiring teams, the team option functions like an expiring contract with upside—you get Kuminga for this season, then decide whether to commit long-term or let him walk.
What Golden State actually wants
The Warriors have been transparent about their wish list. They covet Trey Murphy III from New Orleans, though it's unclear how the Pelicans value Kuminga as a return piece. Michael Porter Jr., now thriving in Brooklyn with career-high averages of 25.8 points per game, has been discussed internally as a potential target.
Centers are also on the radar. Chris Haynes reported the Warriors are targeting Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton, and Robert Williams. With Stephen Curry turning 38 this season and Jimmy Butler in the final year of his deal, Golden State needs immediate help, not projects.
Kuminga, for all his physical tools, is still a project. And the Warriors have run out of patience waiting for the ceiling to become the floor.
The clock is ticking
Mark January 15th on your calendar. That's when the calls get serious. The February 5th trade deadline looms six weeks away, and Golden State has every incentive to move quickly. The longer Kuminga sits, the more his value depreciates. The more tension builds, the harder reconciliation becomes.
Four years after the Warriors drafted him seventh overall in 2021, the Kuminga experiment in Golden State appears to be ending. Not with a leap, but with a trade.