Warriors resume Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade talks with rival

According to Amick, the two Pacific Division rivals didn’t make significant progress in those talks, but the fact that they happened at all indicates that Sacramento hasn’t closed the door on making a move for the restricted free-agent forward. 

The Kings and Warriors were talking earlier this offseason

The Kings were considered the top rival suitor earlier in the offseason for Kuminga, offering him a three-year, $63M contract and offering Golden State a package of Malik Monk and a lottery-protected 2030 first-round pick.

As Amick writes, there are a number of reasons why the Warriors turned down that offer. For one, they don’t appear all that enthusiastic about acquiring Monk — there are questions about his fit on the roster, plus his $21.6M player option for 2027-28 doesn’t appeal to Golden State from a cap perspective. According to Amick, the Warriors would likely want to flip Monk to another team, but it’s unclear if such an opportunity would be available at this point.

Another potential sticking point for the Warriors is the fact that swapping Kuminga straight up for Monk would hard-cap the team at the first tax apron due to base year compensation rules. That would complicate Golden State’s ability to fill out the rest of its roster, including signing Al Horford using the taxpayer mid-level exception.

The Warriors would likely have to trade either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody to a third team to avoid that first-apron hard cap. Prior reporting stated that Golden State didn’t have much interest in taking that route, and Amick suggests that stance has only gotten stronger as of late.

Finally, while the Kings are unlikely to entirely remove the protections from the 2030 first-round pick they’re including in their offer, the Warriors would likely want those protections lightened in order to seriously consider making a deal with the Kings, Amick continues. In Sacramento’s current offer, the Warriors would receive the least favorable of the Kings’ and Spurs’ 2031 first-rounders if the 2030 pick lands in the lottery.

Recent reporting indicated that Golden State has made new offers to Kuminga, including one three-year, $75M proposal that includes a third-year team option. However, the 22-year-old’s agent, Aaron Turner, continues to suggest that accepting the $8M qualifying offer — which comes with a no-trade clause and a clear path to 2026 unrestricted free agency — is a viable option for his client.

Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to sign his qualifying offer, so resolution should come — one way or another — within the next week.