One of the most intriguing sagas of this NBA offseason continues to revolve around the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, a situation that remains unresolved. Rumors of deals that nearly happened keep surfacing, adding even more twists to a storyline that refuses to fade. Now the Milwaukee Bucks are also involved.
According to Brett Siegel, the Milwaukee Bucks completely rejected the idea of a sign-and-trade for Kuminga involving one of their preferred players. “It is also worth mentioning that the Bucks were another team that kicked around the idea of pursuing Kuminga. If they were to do so, the Warriors made it known they would want Bobby Portis in a sign-and-trade scenario, which is something Milwaukee wasn’t willing to do.”
That interest from Milwaukee isn’t new. Siegel also noted that the Warriors have pursued Portis before, dating back to before the 2024 NBA trade deadline. Despite that, the Warriors are unwilling to meet Kuminga’s reported asking price of $30 million annually, and they have no interest in letting him go for less.
According to Siegel’s report for ClutchPoints, the former G League standout has no intention of returning to Golden State on the qualifying offer. “Kuminga and his camp’s main goal entering the offseason was to secure financial security for the coming years,” Siegel wrote. “That goal quickly changed given the hardships faced from the Warriors, as Kuminga doesn’t appear to have any desire to return and again see an inconsistent role that stunts his overall development.”
Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the bench during the second half of a game against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum.
The trade market for Kuminga never truly heated up. The Sacramento Kings were the only team to show consistent interest, reportedly offering Malik Monk plus a first-round pick. But to make that deal work under cap rules, the Warriors would need to part ways with either Moses Moody or Buddy Hield to avoid triggering the hard cap—something they are firmly against.
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NBA rumors: Jonathan Kuminga reportedly continues to cast doubt on his future with the Warriors
“Aside from not wanting to take back long-term salaries in a potential sign-and-trade, which is the case for Monk being under contract through the 2027-28 season, Golden State doesn’t really want to be hard-capped at the first apron again,” Siegel explained.
As the offseason moves forward, this chapter looks likely to reach a conclusion soon, with the possibility of Kuminga spending at least one more season with the Warriors. That, however, would bring its own set of challenges, as tensions could linger in both the locker room and the front office.
Kuminga now faces a decision: accept the $7.9 million qualifying offer and bet on himself for next NBA season, or consider forcing the issue by holding out in an attempt to secure a trade. Either way, the resolution of this standoff will have significant implications for both Kuminga and Golden State’s future.
