The Golden State Warriors are locked in a stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga as his contract negotiation has come to a halt. Now, an NBA champion has stopped trade discussions.
The Warriors and Kuminga are yet to come to a deal. He rejected the Warriors’ offer of $45 million over two years. Kuminga said the Warriors have stunted his growth, and he looks to explore offers elsewhere.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have shown interest in the young talent. Both have explored the possibility of a trade, but an NBA champion is among the two players getting in the way of a deal.
The Golden State Warriors are unwilling to part ways with two players in Jonathan Kuminga trade talks
It was initially reported that Golden State’s sticking point in a potential trade deal was the protections on the first-round picks offered to them. The Warriors reportedly wanted unprotected picks, and the Kings were not willing to offer that.
However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick said that, instead, the Warriors are unwilling to include Moses Moody and Buddy Hield in a trade, but they would need to in order to make the salaries work.
Amick posted to X, “Anyone saying the first-round pick protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors sign-and-trade is wrong, as I’m told Golden State really doesn’t want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody (which would be required).”
A quick (and belated) follow-up on the Jonathan Kuminga reporting from Friday: Anyone saying the first-round pick protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors sign-and-trade is wrong, as I’m told Golden State really doesn’t want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody…
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 4, 2025
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Moody, an NBA champion with the Warriors in 2022, has gained the plaudits of both Steph Curry and Head Coach Steve Kerr in the past.
In 2022, Curry said of Moody, “Extremely talented, high-IQ young guy that works tirelessly to be ready. It’s pretty special to see all of it pay off.” Meanwhile, in 2024, Kerr said, “He’s everything we want in our program… character, work ethic, resilience.”
Hield joined Golden State last offseason and provided much-needed shooting from deep after the departure of Klay Thompson. It’s clear to see why the Warriors won’t move off either.
Jonathan Kuminga will remain a Golden State Warrior next season, says NBA reporter
With the sides no closer to a deal and the Warriors unable to find a trade, Amick reported that Kuminga is most likely to remain in Golden State next season.
He said, “The Warriors are indeed signalling that they expect Kuminga to be on their roster next season. That being said, nearly two months remain before his qualifying offer deadline (Oct. 1). Plenty of time for something to change here.”
Kuminga appears to want to burn bridges with the Warriors and sign with the Kings next summer. He and the Kings have had discussions this offseason, and Kuminga has expressed a desire to join Sacramento.
It seems unlikely that Kuminga would be willing to come to terms with Golden State. He will likely be forced to take a $7.9 million qualifying offer for next season and explore his options in the summer of 2026.