The Golden State Warriors rejected a trade offer from the Sacramento Kings for their restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports.
“They’ve drawn inbound calls in recent days, most notably from the Sacramento Kings, who floated an offer of Devin Carter, Dario Šarić and two second-round picks, league sources said. The Warriors have so far balked at what they felt was a buy-low attempt, league sources said,” Slater wrote.
Slater added that the Warriors are looking for “a promising young player, plus a first-round pick” in a sign-and-trade scenario for the 22-year-old athletic forward.
Jonathan Kuminga Eyes Expanded Role, Starter’s Money
Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick in 2021, is seeking a new deal worth between $25 million and $30 million per year, per ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. On top of that, he is “looking for an expanded and consistent role moving forward,” Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto previously reported.
The Warriors will not offer that money to Kuminga, who will come off the bench next season if he remains with the team.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr made it clear he cannot commit to what Kuminga is looking for in his career with the current timeline of the Warriors and their roster construction.
“I’ve been asked to win,” Kerr told The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” on May 21. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph [Curry], Jimmy [Butler], and Draymond [Green], and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season. He ended what could be the final stretch of his Warriors career in a scoring flurry, averaging 24.3 points on 55.4% overall shooting and 38.9% from the 3-point line in their playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves after Stephen Curry got hurt.
But his flashy numbers did not translate into win, which has been the recurring theme of Kuminga’s NBA career to this point that also factored into Kerr’s decision to play the veterans over him.
Steve Kerr: ‘A Part of JK Thinks About Going Elsewhere’
While Kerr and Kuminga’s relationship was not always rosy, the multi-titled coach said they have a “very good relationship.”
“I think the number one thing is that, JK and I have a very good relationship,” Kerr said on “Willard and Dibs” on 95.7 The Game on Thursday, May 22. “We talk all the time. We like each other. This is all just basketball. This is not a case of JK coming in saying, ‘Hey, I got to get out of here.’ I want this. I want that.”
Kerr benched Kuminga at the start of the playoffs when the team was healthy. They reached the second round with little to no help from Kuminga, who only played in the postseason when one of their stars — Butler and Curry — were not available.
“This is just trying to make this fit and trying to make this work. But every player, every young player, even the older guys, they want to fit in well with what’s happening,” Kerr continued. “And so I think there’s got to be part of JK that thinks about going elsewhere.”
