Jonathan Kuminga has formally asked the Golden State Warriors for a trade, a move that immediately raised eyebrows across the league and caught the attention of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
After sitting out 13 straight games, Kuminga made his position clear on the first day he became trade eligible, signaling that his long term future in San Francisco is nearing its end.
The Warriors have responded by canvassing the trade market, yet discussions have stalled, not due to a lack of interest, but because Golden State has imposed firm conditions.
The Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Lakers have all been linked, however the Warriors‘ front office appears focused on flexibility rather than splashy returns.
“The Warriors have been prioritizing expiring contracts in return for Kuminga,” reports Shams Charania and Anthony Slater. “They’ve declined the idea of taking back long-term contracts unless they view it as no-brainer positive value.
“That’s been the holdup in conversations with Sacramento. The Warriors refuse to absorb the three years and $60.4 million remaining on Malik Monk‘s deal.
“Though league sources said Keon Ellis (on a cheap expiring deal) is a potential sweetener of interest to them.”
Those demands have slowed momentum, but they have not cooled curiosity, especially for teams seeking athletic upside without future cap commitments.
Sacramento remains engaged, with Ellis viewed internally as a movable piece whose defense and shooting could appeal to Steve Kerr‘s rotation.
The Lakers also loom quietly, armed with expiring deals and an eye toward preserving future flexibility around James‘ closing championship window.
Dallas, by contrast, lacks the contract structure Golden State prefers, making its interest harder to translate into a realistic offer.
For the Warriors, patience is part of the strategy, believing leverage will increase as the deadline approaches and rivals reassess priorities.
Golden State is also signaling it does not need to rush into adding salary, preferring clean books over forcing a midseason roster shakeup.
That stance is notable given outside speculation linking the Warriors to higher profile scorers who could reshape their offense instantly.
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Kuminga‘s demand resonates in Los Angeles because it aligns with the Lakers‘ short term approach, maximizing flexibility while avoiding restrictive contracts.
The Lakers are discovering their current roster lacks postseason punch, yet they remain unwilling to sacrifice future draft capital prematurely.
CBS Sports‘ Sam Quinn outlined why Kuminga fits that thinking, especially given the structure of his deal and uncertain role in Golden State.
“The Lakers were a surprising addition to the reported list of possible (Jonathan) Kuminga teams, but it actually makes some sense when you think about it,” Quinn wrote Thursday.
“The Lakers aren’t giving up real assets for anyone right now.
“They’re running out the clock on the LeBron James era and waiting to rebuild their roster over the summer with their three tradable first-round picks and over $50 million in cap space.
“They won’t give up picks or take on long-term money. If they’re going to make a move, it’s going to be shuffling deck chairs.
“Send out their expiring contracts for other expiring contracts, ideally with different skill sets. Kuminga has a team option for next season; his deal is effectively expiring.
“So the swap here would be something like Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht for Kuminga.”
From Golden State‘s perspective, that structure fits its priorities, delivering expiring money while maintaining financial freedom beyond the season.
For Los Angeles, Kuminga represents upside without obligation, a flyer that does not compromise summer plans if the experiment falls flat.
However, basketball fit remains a concern, as the Lakers need perimeter shooting and defense, two areas where he remains inconsistent.
Even supporters concede Kuminga would likely serve as a rotation scorer rather than a transformational piece alongside James.
This reality tempers expectations, though it does not erase the appeal of youth, athleticism, and potential growth in a new environment.
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