Rumor: Jonathan Kuminga Wants To Play For Kings

Jonathan Kuminga wants to play for the Sacramento Kings, according to NBA insider Marc J. Spears of ESPN. 

Kuminga no longer wants to play with the Golden State Warriors. 

“He wants to go,” Spears said. “He wants to go. And the Kings are offering a starting spot, power forward next to Keegan Murray, next to (Domantas) Sabonis. He’s talked on a Zoom call with Scott Perry, the GM, BJ Armstrong, the assistant GM, and also with their head coach. So he’s in. He wants to go there.”

Kuminga is a restricted free agent. The Warriors and Kings must agree to a sign-and-trade deal for Kuminga to land in Sacramento.

Kuminga, who doesn’t have a good relationship with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for Golden State last season in 47 games. The 22-year-old forward shot 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. 

The Kings missed the playoffs last season, while the Warriors lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals in five games. 

Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with Golden State. 

The Warriors want to re-sign Kuminga, who was on the 2022 championship team. Golden State’s front office recently offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract, but the swingman declined the offer because the contract had a team option in Year 2 and there was no built-in no-trade clause.

Kuminga believes the Warriors have stunted and strung his career along for four seasons, according to NBA insiders Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN. 

Golden State has Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, making it difficult for Kuminga to become a featured option. 

The Kings have Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, three All-Stars. Kuminga could make Sacramento a playoff team. 

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