The situation between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors has reached its inevitable conclusion.
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Golden State's Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade away from the Warriors as he becomes eligible to be moved Thursday, sources tell ESPN.
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 15, 2026
Kuminga, newly eligible to be traded, has formally requested a move out of Golden State, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater and Shams Charania. The request comes as little surprise. His desire for a fresh start has been an open secret around the league for months.
The former No. 7 overall pick explored options last summer as a restricted free agent, with teams like the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns showing interest. Those talks never gained traction. No offer sheet was strong enough to scare off Golden State, and no sign-and-trade proposal met the Warriors' asking price.
That left Kuminga back in the Bay Area on a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a team option for the 2026-27 season. The return did not reset the relationship. After opening the year as a starter, Kuminga was pushed to the bench in November and eventually fell completely out of the rotation. He has not appeared in a game since Dec. 18.
According to ESPN and The Athletic, virtually everyone involved now agrees a trade makes sense. Even team owner Joe Lacob, once one of Kuminga's strongest internal supporters, has grown frustrated with the situation.
The problem for Golden State is timing. Kuminga's value has slipped, and it has not been helped by weeks of DNP-CDs. Sacramento remains interested but is no longer willing to include a first-round pick. Phoenix has backed off entirely. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers have been linked, though nothing substantive has materialized.
The Warriors insist they are comfortable waiting if real value is not available. Rival executives are skeptical. With the Feb. 5 deadline approaching, most around the league expect Kuminga to be moved, one way or another.
