Having been dropped from head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation recently, Jonathan Kuminga’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors could be coming to an end sooner than later.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on NBA on Prime on Friday night that Kuminga has had “numerous meetings” with Kerr that haven’t smoothed over any of their differences and rival teams expect the 23-year-old will be moved prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
“There are rival teams out there that believe that once January 15th comes — that’s when Kuminga can be traded — they do not expect him to still be a member of the Golden State Warriors past the trade deadline. So, he is a name to watch as this time goes on. Kuminga has been very frustrated,’ reported Haynes.
Kuminga’s relationship with Kerr and the Warriors has seemed fraught with tension for a long time now.
Kerr has publicly criticized Kuminga’s shot selection, while also acknowledging he can do a better job of coaching up the young forward.
During the Warriors’ playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported an instance when Kerr was “incensed” during a regular-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers because Kuminga had “several instances” when he looked off Stephen Curry in an attempt to create his own offense.
As a restricted free agent during the offseason, Kuminga had a prolonged standoff with the Warriors that included his agent speaking publicly about the negotiations.
Kuminga eventually returned to the Warriors on a two-year, $48.5 million contract in which he also waived his inherent no-trade clause when he becomes eligible to be moved on Jan. 15.
The deal also includes a team option for the second year that in theory makes it easier to trade since it could be treated as an expiring contract, rather than an acquiring club having to be on the hook for Kuminga’s $24.3 million salary in 2026-27.
Kuminga looked like he was going to take a leap at the start of this season. He averaged 17.2 points on 51.4 percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 rebounds per game in his first nine games.
Since Nov. 7, Kuminga’s production has cratered with 6.3 points on 31.1 percent shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in nine appearances. He has also missed 13 games during that stretch, with Kerr keeping him on the bench in five of the previous seven games.
Given how far Kuminga appears to have fallen out of favor in Golden State, the team would seem unlikely to get a significant value in a trade. At this point, though, it might simply be in the best interest of both parties to go their separate ways with the trade deadline just six weeks away.