While the Golden State Warriors want restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga to bend knee, he’s betting on himself this offseason. As a result, he’s eschewed all opportunities to return to The Bay on their terms. In fact, at this point, it’s starting to sound as if he wants to get out of town by any means necessary. Ironically, that could lead to the 22-year-old combo forward joining a franchise that’s even more dysfunctional than the Warriors have been these past two seasons: the Sacramento Kings.
Kings Up The Ante For Warriors-Jonathan Kuminga Sign & Trade
“He wants to go,” Andscape’s Marc J. Spears tells ESPN colleagues Malika Andrews and Kendrick Perkins.
Marc Spears says Kuminga “wants to go” to Sacramento:
“The Kings are offering a starting spot. He’s talked on a zoom call with Scott Perry, BJ Armstrong and also with Doug Christie. He’s in.”
He also said the Suns have offered:
Royce O’Neale
Nick Richards
4 2nd round picks pic.twitter.com/GithAY7Yte— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 30, 2025
“He wants to go and the Kings are offering a starting spot (at) power forward next to Keegan Murray, next to (Domantas) Sabonis. He’s talked on a Zoom call with (general manager) Scott Perry, (assistant general manager) BJ Armstong, and also with their head coach (Doug Christie). So he’s in.
He wants to go there… but, I think that first (round pick), the Warriors don’t like the first.”
A previous report mentioned that Kuminga had met with Sacramento’s decision-makers. However, it was believed that the Kings had offered the Warriors a package of Devin Carter, Dario Saric and a second-round pick. Perhaps that really was the proposed package at the time. Nevertheless, the intel Spears received makes Golden State’s decision to dig in their heels a real head-scratcher.
Letting Down Their Guard?
“The Warriors have been defiant,” ESPN senior insider Shams Charania tells Andrews in a separate segment.
On Jonathan Kuminga declining the Warriors’ free agent offers and what comes next for NBA Today with @malika_andrews and @anthonyVslater: pic.twitter.com/d4I9qmgB2k
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2025
“They want a good player. They also want an unprotected first-round pick — a good first-round pick. The Sacramento Kings, I’m told, have actually offered a first-round pick in those conversations. It’s been a conditional first-round pick, as well as a potential rotation player… but the Warriors wanted the Sacramento Kings to give an unprotected fully (sic) first-round pick.”
The Kings have first-round picks available in each of the next five drafts, including two 2027 first-rounders (h/t ESPN). With that in mind, they can probably afford to give Golden State one that’s unconditional. Yet, the interest Kuminga has in signing with them combined with his disinterest in remaining with the Warriors and his ability to become an unrestricted free agent next year doesn’t give them much incentive to do so.
That’s particularly true with the Phoenix Suns, who are also hot on Kuminga’s trail, not having a tradable first-round pick. Consequently, the Suns have offered four second-round picks, according to Spears. Notably, ESPN posted a graphic showing that Phoenix only has three tradable second-rounders.
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