Jonathan Kuminga became eligible to be traded on Thursday, Jan. 15, and he apparently didn’t wait long to tell the Golden State Warriors he wants them to make a deal ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline.
The No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft officially demanded a trade hours after the Warriors were allowed to execute one, according to an ESPN report, as both Kuminga and the team try to end what’s become a messy relationship.
Kuminga, 23, has appeared in just one of Golden State’s past 17 games after beginning the 2025-26 season in the starting lineup, and he hasn’t played in 13-consecutive games after falling out of coach Steve Kerr’s regular rotation. The Warriors, meanwhile, haven’t looked like NBA title contenders despite the presence of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 22-19 record entering Thursday’s game against the New York Knicks.
Kuminga and Golden State’s front office were at an impasse this offseason when he was a restricted free agent, but they eventually agreed on a two-year, $46.8-million contract that included a team option for next season. It was always intended to serve as a short-term resolution, and the agreement wasn’t eligible to be traded until Jan. 15 due to NBA rules.
Now, with that date here, a separation seems inevitable before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Jonathan Kuminga trade landing spots
The market for Kuminga could be complicated, with some teams intrigued by his flashes of offensive potential with the Warriors, but more not willing to invest heavily in a player whose long-term role remains uncertain in the midst of his fifth season in the NBA.
Here are a few of the rumored options for Kuminga trades involving the Warriors:
Sacramento Kings
Kuminga might not move far because the Kings were the only team with signficant interest in trading for Kuminga as of last week, according to an NBC Sports Bay Area report. Most of Sacramento’s veterans appear available ahead of the deadline, with DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk the most likely to be part of a Kuminga deal.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers need a boost in athleticism on the wing, particularly on the defensive end, if they’re going to make a playoff run with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James playing together. Kuminga doesn’t fit that mold perfectly, but perhaps a deal involving Rui Hachimura would be meaningful enough for both sides to shake up their potential postseason rotations.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are among the teams to have reportedly expressed interest in Kuminga even though the recent injury to Anthony Davis likely makes him an option the Warriors wouldn’t want to pursue. Center Daniel Gafford, however, would fill a need in Golden State, and a deal would help Dallas reshuffle its roster around Cooper Flagg.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets could do for Kuminga what they’ve done for Michael Porter Jr. this season by acquiring Kuminga as part of a deal involving Porter. The Warriors would add another role player with championship experience having a career year in Brooklyn, while the Nets could then showcase Kuminga as an expiring contract for the next year or so (and perhaps add a Golden State draft pick in the exchange).
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks’ potential desperation to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo makes them a potential Warriors trade partner for Kuminga, if only they can’t swing a deal for anyone else. Forward Bobby Portis could help address Golden State’s issues inside, but Kuminga probably doesn’t move the needle enough to make the Bucks a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Jonathan Kuminga salary, contract
Kuminga is in the first season of a two-year, $46.8-million contract he signed in October 2025 before the start of the 2025-26 season. He is earning a salary of $22.5 million for this season and the deal includes a team option with a salary of $24.3 million for the 2026-27 season.
Jonathan Kuminga stats
Kuminga is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 18 games this season. He’s shooting a career-worst 43.1% from the floor.