Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga faces an uncertain future as the NBA offseason continues.
After he spent the first four seasons of his pro career with the Warriors, it seems like he’s ready to move on, according to a report, which added that he likes the idea of joining the Sacramento Kings or Phoenix Suns.
“Jonathan Kuminga wants to leave the Golden State Warriors and likes the idea of playing for the Sacramento Kings or Phoenix Suns, an NBA source told Hoops Wire on Saturday,” wrote Ashish Mathur of Hoops Wire.
“The Suns and Kings are interested in Kuminga, but neither franchise has extended an offer sheet to the talented forward, the NBA source said.”
The problem for Kuminga is that he has limited control over where he will land due to his status as a restricted free agent. Since the Warriors extended him a qualifying offer, he can sign an offer sheet elsewhere, but Golden State will have the right to match any offer sheet he does sign. If the Warriors were to do that, he’d end up back with them.
It’s also possible that his market has been impacted by the fact that he is a restricted free agent, something that could theoretically scare teams away. There is also a lack of cap space around the NBA, which doesn’t benefit someone like Kuminga.
The Warriors have seemingly made efforts outside of just their qualifying offer to retain the 22-year-old, but so far, no deal has come to fruition.
Earlier this week, ESPN added some more info on the Kuminga situation, including details on the Kings and Suns. Kuminga’s agent Aaron Turner has reportedly spent much of July looking for sign-and-trade opportunities.
“The Warriors and Kuminga didn’t swap contract numbers in the lead-up to free agency,” wrote ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “So, Turner has spent much of July searching for sign-and-trade opportunities, getting the most tangible bites from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, league sources said.
“Both suitors remain on the fringe of these talks, attempting to engage the Warriors on packages but delivering nothing that has moved the needle. The Warriors don’t want to add what they view as bad salary, would like a promising young player and have been steadfast in their request for a first-round pick in any Kuminga sign-and-trade talks, league sources said. Phoenix doesn’t even have a first-round pick available to trade.”
Kuminga’s role has fluctuated in the NBA, making him a somewhat tricky player to evaluate. He came into the league as a lottery pick in 2021 and has shown major potential at times.
Over the last two seasons, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Kuminga’s spot in Golden State’s rotation was inconsistent during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, but once he started to get extended playing time in the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he flourished. He averaged 24.3 points per game over the final four games of the series.
Clearly, he is a player who is capable of making an impact at the NBA level, and it makes his situation even more interesting as the offseason rolls on. He is sure to land somewhere, but as of now, it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll spend the 2025-26 season.
