The Feb. 5 trade deadline is fast approaching, putting the Golden State Warriors in the hot seat to resolve their Jonathan Kuminga conundrum. The team is actively exploring trade market options for the 23-year-old forward, who has only played 10 minutes since Dec. 6.
Tensions between Kuminga and the Warriors began to surface when it became clear that his ambition to become a star often clashed with the role the Warriors envisioned for him. At the start of the season, things seemed to be on track as Kuminga shined in the first five games with his defense, energy, rebounding, and production. However, inconsistency, turnovers, and injuries soon took their toll, leading to his removal from the rotation.
Kuminga hasn’t played since Dec. 18, a situation that has undoubtedly lowered his trade value. He was expected to return to the lineup against Oklahoma City on Jan. 2—on a night when Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler were all out—but he was a late scratch due to back soreness, raising some eyebrows.
The Sacramento Kings have reportedly shown interest in acquiring Kuminga, who is earning $22.5 million this season, with a team option for $24.3 million next season. Despite this, the Warriors have yet to pull the trigger on any deal.
With the Dallas Mavericks struggling and reportedly open for business, an intriguing trade possibility involves swapping Kuminga for Daniel Gafford and a wing player, such as Max Christie or even Klay Thompson. Gafford, who helped the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals, would provide the Warriors with added size and bolster their interior defense—an area where they need reinforcement. Adding wing depth would also be beneficial. Moreover, Kuminga pairing with the Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg could prove to be an intriguing combination.
Another top trade target in exchange for Kuminga could be Brooklyn Nets wing Michael Porter Jr., although such a deal would likely require the involvement of a third team.
Last season, the Warriors made a blockbuster move at the trade deadline by acquiring Jimmy Butler from Miami. That move sparked a 23-8 run and helped them reach the second round of the playoffs against Minnesota. Unfortunately, that momentum was derailed when Curry suffered a left hamstring injury in Game 1 of the series.
This season, the Warriors look more like a play-in team with a 20-18 record. They have struggled with lineup consistency and overall performance. In a rare moment of unfiltered honesty, coach Steve Kerr recently called the Warriors “a fading dynasty” during an appearance on the “Tom Tolbert Show,” stating it was delusional to think they could consistently compete with young powerhouses like Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Kerr’s comments went viral and were widely criticized for their pessimism.
However, what many overlooked was Kerr’s hopeful remark about the team’s potential this season: “There’s no reason we can’t give ourselves an opportunity.”
Golden State can still be competitive, especially if they find a solid return for Kuminga. Curry remains elite, averaging 28.8 points on 46.8 percent shooting. Butler is shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. Kerr also acknowledged that while Draymond Green isn’t “quite as quick” defensively as he was five years ago, he compensates with his basketball IQ, calling him “one of the greatest defenders in the league.”
It appears the Warriors are just a piece or two away from making some noise in the Western Conference. They have already begun to turn the corner, winning seven of their last 10 games during an ongoing eight-game homestand.
With Kuminga desiring a larger role and a mutual breakup seeming inevitable, Golden State has a chance to plug some key holes if they can secure the right trade return for the young star.
The Warriors are in a unique position. They resurrected their dynasty once by winning the championship in 2022 after being left for dead—missing the playoffs in 2020 and 2021 following Kevin Durant’s departure in 2019 and the string of injuries to Curry and Klay Thompson.
However, over the past three seasons, the Warriors have yet to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs. Whether Golden State has another push for greatness left before the eventual decline of this dynasty remains to be seen.
What the Warriors do with Jonathan Kuminga could have a significant impact on their future trajectory.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/09/sports/golden-state-warriors-must-trade-jonathon-kuminga/
