Jonathan Kuminga‘s future is increasingly uncertain as training camp approaches at the Golden State Warriors and could he be destined for an exit with a move to the Miami Heat?
The 22-year-old forward remains central to their long-term plans, emphasizing development, fit, and a potential expanded role. Yet, with no contract finalized and the season drawing near, questions linger among fans about why a resolution has not yet been reached.
Recently, Kuminga was spotted courtside at the Notre Dame vs. Miami football game, a seemingly innocuous appearance that immediately drew attention as speculation was ignited across social media.
The reason why? Two Instagram stories capturing the forward in the crowd led to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area highlighting the timing of Kuminga‘s visit to Miami, a city where he has been linked to trade rumors in previous months.
Earlier this summer, the Heat explored the prospect of bringing Jonathan to the east coast from the other side of the United States, but this reportedly cooled after the team picked up Norman Powell.
Now, Kuminga‘s presence in the city has reignited chatter that the Heat might still pursue a deal and on paper, the fit is compelling for one of the NBA’s most popular franchises.
Could Jonathan Kuminga join the Miami Heat?
Miami values athleticism, defensive intensity, and transition scoring, traits the Warriors‘ ace possesses as last season, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over 47 games while shooting 45.4 percent from the field.
However, the Warriors‘ situation complicates a potential move as Golden State offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million extension, which he declined, suggesting he’s thinking of the exit door.
As a restricted free agent, the team retains matching rights for any offer sheet, and navigating sign-and-trade rules is challenging given salary cap constraints and potential trade partners would need to structure deals carefully to avoid luxury tax penalties and remain under the apron.
If Kuminga opts against a trade, he could enter the 2026-27 season on the qualifying offer, a one-year arrangement that would allow him unrestricted free agency in 2027 when more cap space is projected across the league.
This route carries risk: a subpar season or injury could reduce market value, while a breakout year could significantly increase his leverage as he could position himself to take over at the Chase Center when Steph Curry retires.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are juggling other roster questions, with players like Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II awaiting new deals, so, trading Kuminga could limit the team’s flexibility under the hard cap.
That means it becomes a pragmatic option to keep Kuminga in San Francisco, even if the team doesn’t plan to make him their cornerstone for the franchise in the future years.
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