The Sacramento Kings remain in play for Golden State Warriors restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, but the possibility of a sign-and-trade continues to hinge on one critical factor: the protections on a first-round pick.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Warriors may be willing to reopen talks with Sacramento if the Kings agree to lift the protections on the 2030 pick they previously included in trade discussions. Sacramento’s original proposal paired guard Malik Monk and the protected pick with a three-year, $63 million contract for Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick in 2021.
“There are some stakeholders who believe the Warriors would likely change their stance if the protections were dropped completely,” Amick reported. He added that Golden State has been reluctant to take back Monk’s contract, which carries a $21.5 million player option in 2027-28, and that dealing with luxury-tax apron restrictions could also force the Warriors to move Moses Moody or Buddy Hield as part of a package.
Kuminga’s Wish: Sacramento
While the Warriors weigh their options, Kuminga has made his own preference clear. In August, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears reported that the 22-year-old forward wants out of Golden State — and that his top destination is Sacramento.
After a Zoom meeting with Kings GM Scott Perry, assistant GM BJ Armstrong, and assistant coach Doug Christie, Kuminga was convinced that the Kings were the right fit, Spears said.
“He wants to go [to Sacramento],” Spears reported. “The Kings are offering a starting spot, as the power forward, next to Keegan Murray and [Domantas] Sabonis.”
Amick confirmed that team sources believe Kuminga does, in fact, want to play for Sacramento. The Warriors, however, shut down talks with both the Kings and Suns earlier in the summer.
Sacramento’s Opportunity
Getty Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings.
For the Kings, Kuminga represents exactly the kind of young, athletic forward who could grow alongside Murray and Sabonis while giving Sacramento another perimeter defender and slasher in the starting lineup.
At just 22, Kuminga is entering what many around the league expect to be his breakout years. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season in 47 games, while shooting 45.4% from the field. But he has often voiced frustration about his role with the Warriors, where veterans have continued to take precedence in Steve Kerr’s rotations.
That frustration has fueled the current stalemate. Kuminga rejected Golden State’s three-year, $75.2 million offer that includes a team option in the third season. He has pushed instead for either a player option or a one-year balloon contract that would allow him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
Will Kings Sweeten the Deal?
The Warriors’ reluctance to lose a former lottery pick for nothing next summer could ultimately play to Sacramento’s advantage. If the Kings were to drop the protections on their 2030 first-round pick, Golden State may decide that a sign-and-trade is its best path forward.
For now, the standoff continues. But with Kuminga’s clear desire to wear a Kings uniform — and Sacramento’s ability to offer him both a starting role and a long-term home — the door to a deal remains open. The question is whether the Kings are willing to sweeten their offer and remove the protections that stand in the way.
Kings’ Dream Trade Still in Play: Insider