Jonathan Kuminga is likely returning to the Golden State Warriors, but only temporarily.
According to Brett Siegel, Kuminga is expected to re-sign with the Warriors in the coming days. However, the fine print of that reunion reveals a strategic understanding between both parties: this is not a long-term partnership.
Multiple league sources confirm that the Warriors and Kuminga’s camp are operating under the mutual expectation that the 21-year-old forward will be traded before the 2026 NBA trade deadline in February.
On the surface, this seems like an amicable resolution to a stalled offseason for both sides. The Warriors didn’t receive the kind of offers they were hoping for in sign-and-trade scenarios, and Kuminga didn’t find a suitable new home either.
Teams like the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets were all floated as potential destinations, but none came close to sealing a deal.
The Kings in particular were rumored to be interested, but cap space complications and roster congestion effectively removed them from serious consideration. Likewise, Miami has moved on after trading for Norman Powell and reaching the first apron.
Golden State had hoped to use Kuminga as a high-value trade piece to retool the roster with younger talent or future draft capital. But the market never materialized.
With only nine players under contract and over $25 million in space below the first tax apron, the Warriors need clarity around Kuminga’s contract to move forward with other signings.
That’s why a temporary reunion now makes sense: Kuminga returns, plays significant minutes, and rebuilds his value league-wide, all while the Warriors keep him as a flexible trade chip for a bigger deal closer to the deadline.
The subtext is unmistakable. This isn’t about building around Kuminga. It’s about buying time.
Kuminga showed real flashes of growth during the 2024–25 campaign, especially when Stephen Curry went down in the playoffs. His athleticism, defensive upside, and improving offensive versatility made him a key part of the Warriors’ late-season competitiveness. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. publicly praised Kuminga’s development, and owner Joe Lacob reportedly supports his return.
Yet the writing is on the wall.
By locking him into a new deal now, the Warriors can trade his full salary in February — a crucial distinction, since sign-and-trade rules restrict outgoing salary to 50% value if the deal happens before that window.
That means Kuminga, on a full mid-level type salary, becomes an incredibly useful contract to include in a larger trade for a veteran piece or draft assets. It’s all about leverage and timing.
Until that happens, the Warriors will continue navigating a cautious offseason. Free agent targets like Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Seth Curry remain on their radar.
The team is actively weighing minimum signings that can bolster depth around Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green without tipping into the luxury tax danger zone. Melton and Ben Simmons are among those who might take discounts to join Golden State’s rotation, depending on how things shake out.
But none of that movement can truly begin until Kuminga’s contract situation is finalized.
In essence, the Warriors are using this moment to hedge. They’ll give Kuminga a platform to increase his trade value while keeping him off the books as a restricted free agent. And Kuminga, for his part, gets guaranteed money, a familiar system, and the opportunity to prove he’s ready for a bigger role, somewhere else.
It’s not a long-term marriage. It’s a business partnership with a ticking clock.
And everyone, from Joe Lacob to rival executives, knows it ends in February.
