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The Sacramento Kings are reportedly unwilling to part with draft assets in a potential Jonathan Kuminga trade. The Golden State Warriors forward, who became trade-eligible on Jan. 15, has been coveted by the Kings since his restricted free agency last summer and remains their top target ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, per multiple insiders.
According to Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, the main holdup in a potential Kuminga to Kings trade could be the subject of moving draft assets.
“Over the summer, they were willing to offer a protected first-round pick for Kuminga,” Scotto told “NoDunksInc” podcast of the Kings.
“That does not appear to be on the table as of now,” Scotto added. “We’ll see if that changes over the next few weeks, but given the situation, it doesn’t seem likely.”
Warriors Unwilling to Budge?
Scotto added that while several other teams have expressed interest in a Jonathan Kuminga trade, the Kings remain the only team to “put some action” behind their interest by engaging the Warriors several times in recent weeks.
It’s worth noting that the Warriors nixed a deal that would have sent Kuminga to Sacramento last summer as they were unhappy with the package of Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick. With the Kings removing that draft asset from the table, a potential deal could get even more complicated ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
The Warriors, who can waive Kuminga over the summer, are under no obligation to trade the Congolese forward within the next few weeks and could reportedly hold onto him. Conversely, the Kings can sign Kuminga outright as a free agent over the summer if the Warriors decline his Team Option for the 2026-27 season.
Other Kuminga Trade Suitors
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors have internally discussed the idea of keeping Kuminga on the roster if a suitable trade doesn’t materialize by the deadline.
“One month prior to the trade deadline and eight days before Jonathan Kuminga becomes trade-eligible, the Warriors have not made substantial movement towards getting a Kuminga trade in place,” Slater reported on Dec. 7. “Team sources have said in recent days that they’d be willing to keep Kuminga past the deadline if nothing appealing enough materializes.”
Besides the Kings, the New Orleans Pelicans remain the team most interested in a Kuminga trade, per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. However, the Pelicans front office has yet to make a concrete offer for the fifth-year Warriors forward and is reportedly waiting to see how the Kings’ situation pans out in the coming weeks.
According to Siegel, the Chicago Bulls have “some level of interest” in the Kuminga, but not to the degree of the Kings and Pelicans, who “stand out” among the suitors.
In recent weeks, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor named the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards as other potential Kuminga suitors, while The Athletic’s Sam Amick named the Dallas Mavericks. Amick reported that the Mavs reached out to the Warriors to explore an Anthony Davis trade involving Kuminga and either Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler III. The Warriors shot them down.