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Surprise Team Emerges as Contender to Sign Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 8:30 AM ET

Restricted free agency has proven a dicey business for the top dogs this summer.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey, and Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas all remain unsigned as of this writing.

While Giddey and Thomas seem likely to return to their respective squads, Kuminga's fate seems more tenuous, to say the least.

Kuminga has at this point made it known that he would like to play with more consistent minutes and a bigger role somewhere.

Given that the Warriors are looking to maximize their aging core of All-Stars Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, they can ill afford to wait for the 22-year-old Kuminga to become the stable contributor they need him to be.

A divorce may be the best fit for all parties.

Per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets are interested in potentially bringing Kuminga aboard.

But a new name has emerged in the last day — the Washington Wizards.

Here's the latest on Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency. The Kings floated an offer. The Wizards have generated some notable interest. A return to the Warriors is still on the table. It remains unresolved after four days.https://t.co/bpZytjnnZs
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 4, 2025

"The Golden State Warriors, according to league sources, have been searching for a promising young player plus a first-round pick in return for Kuminga, should they ultimately choose to part with him in a sign-and-trade scenario," Slater writes.

"The Washington Wizards entered the mix in the last 24 hours, and the idea of Kuminga as a possible fit in Washington’s rebuild has gained real momentum, according to league sources," Slater adds.

Washington might make a lot of sense for Kuminga, who still has plenty of potential, and could get plenty of run on a rebuilding squad like the Wizards.

Last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 boards and 2.2 dimes, but injuries and rotational changes limited him to 47 healthy games.

"Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner, are in search of a situation where Kuminga will be a featured part of the core with the belief of the franchise and coaching staff behind him," Slater notes. "That isn’t something Kuminga has consistently felt in his four years with the Warriors and — holding a degree of agency for the first time in his professional career — he’s in patient pursuit of a situation that matches his ambitions."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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