Jonathan Kuminga ‘Really Wants’ to Play for Sacramento Kings

Jonathan Kuminga “really wants” to play for the Sacramento Kings, NBA sources told DallasHoopsJournal.

Kuminga, a restricted free agent, has “zero interest” in playing for the Golden State Warriors ever again, sources said.

The Kings are very interested in acquiring Kuminga from the Warriors, sources said. However, Golden State isn’t interested in what Sacramento is offering in sign-and-trade talks.

The Kings have offered Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-round pick to the Warriors for Kuminga, sources said. Sacramento has told Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner, that it’s willing to sign him to a three-year, $63 million deal, with a player option for the third season.

The Warriors offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million deal with a team option in the third season last week. Kuminga declined the offer because he prefers a player option over a team option.

Kuminga’s agent presented a three-year, $82 million offer — including a player option in Year 3 — to the Warriors. The front office, led by general manager Mike Dunleavy, rejected it.

Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, sources said. The Kings told Kuminga they view him as an All-Star forward who will receive a high usage rate under head coach Doug Christie, sources said. That was music to Kuminga’s ears.

Kuminga’s qualifying offer is worth $7.9 million. If he signs it, the swingman would have a no-trade clause for the 2025-26 season and enter unrestricted free agency next offseason.

Multiple teams will have cap space next summer to pursue Kuminga, who averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line.

The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Warriors.

Golden State defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in seven games but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in five games. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in the 2025 playoffs.

Kerr was forced to play Kuminga in the Rockets series because Jimmy Butler missed Game 3 with an injury.

Kuminga only played in the Timberwolves series because Stephen Curry got injured in Game 1 and missed Games 2, 3, 4 and 5.

All signs point toward Kuminga signing his 2025-26 player option and becoming an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Kuminga has until October 1 to sign the qualifying offer.