Sources: Jonathan Kuminga ‘counting down the days’ until Warriors trade him

Jonathan Kuminga is “counting down the days” until the Golden State Warriors trade him, sources told Ahn Fire Digital.

Kuminga can be traded after January 14. The Warriors, who are in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, are expected to trade Kuminga this season, sources said.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr hasn’t played Kuminga since December 6. Kuminga has appeared in 17 games this season. He’s averaging 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from beyond the arc and 74.1 percent from the free-throw line.

The 23-year-old Kuminga wanted to leave the Warriors this past offseason and join the Sacramento Kings, sources said. However, Golden State wasn’t interested in completing a sign-and-trade deal with Sacramento.

The Kings, who are in 14th place in the West, are expected to pursue Kuminga again after January 14, sources said.

Kuminga signed a two-year, $48.5 million deal with the Warriors to end his long, complicated restricted free agency this past offseason. The second year of the deal is a team option and it’s designed for Kuminga’s new team to rip up and complete a new contract after this season.

A one-time champion, Kuminga is the fourth-highest-paid player on the Warriors. He spoke to reporters in Chicago on December 7 about being removed from the rotation by Kerr and said he doesn’t “have any problems.”

“I don’t have any problems,” Kuminga said. “I’m going to work out every day, stay ready, because you never know how these things works. I believe in my game and feel good about my game. I just got to be a professional. Things happen. It’s happened before.”

Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Kerr and believes the Warriors have severely stunted his growth, sources said. All signs point toward Golden State and Kuminga parting ways after January 14.

The Warriors drafted Kuminga with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The swingman has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.