In what has become a never-ending drama of the 2025 Warriors offseason, Golden State finds itself at an impasse with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Efforts to reach a contract settlement and even negotiate a sign-and-trade have failed so far.
We have even floated trade scenarios that cast Kuminga as the centerpiece in multiteam exchanges. But nothing has happened yet, and finally, there could be some light at the end of this long tunnel.
A trade that could involve the Orlando Magic, an organization eager to invest in young talent and future stars like Kuminga. We have strongly hinted that Orlando’s youth-first philosophy and depth of assets make them a strong candidate if the Warriors engage in a last-ditch maneuver to move on from the young forward.
Whether such a deal comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it would offer a dramatic final chapter in Kuminga’s stalled saga. Let’s dive into what the trade could look like and how it plays out.
Proposed Trade Details
Orlando Magic Receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors Receive: Jonathan Isaac, Jase Richardson, 2032 first-round pick (ORL), 2028 second-round pick, 2029 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick
Golden State Warriors Finally Move Kuminga… And Bring Back A Nice Return
In a perfect world, after months of contract drama, discomfort, and pedestrian fit, the Golden State Warriors finally pull the plug and move Jonathan Kuminga, and it’s a solid last-ditch return. Jonathan Isaac, still a high-tier defender averaging elite defensive metrics (5.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG), is the long-term glue piece, while Jase Richardson brings the kind of hustle and perimeter IQ that every Kerr lineup craves.
Then, you layer in three future second-rounders plus that juicy 2032 first-round asset, and suddenly, the Warriors haven’t just replaced potential upside with usable talent; they’ve reloaded smartly. The contract structure here looks cleaner, too, giving Golden State breathing room should Stephen Curry need rest or shocker signings arise deep into the season.
Meanwhile, Kuminga, despite flashes of promise, simply never gelled under Kerr’s ball-and-motion offense. His 2024-25 numbers, 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists on a 45.4% clip, tell us he can score, but his fit was clunky.
The Warriors don’t value Kuminga but also want to stay in championship contention, so adding a two-way forward and a 19-year-old guard makes sense. Neither is on the level of Kuminga, but they could make an immediate impact in Steve Kerr’s system, and the picks add future flexibility.
Orlando Magic Continue Their Ascension In The Eastern Conference
Now swing east, let’s talk Orlando. The Magic may not be in that blockbuster, but they’re quietly building something deep, smart, and sustainable. Offseason moves tell the story: they re-signed their core, Paolo Banchero (5-year, $287 million) and Franz Wagner (5-year, $224M), and added two-way wing Desmond Bane. That is how you meld continuity with experience.
If Kuminga had landed in Orlando, and who knows, maybe that “last-ditch” rumor had legs, they would’ve gotten a still-young, high-upside wing with breakout explosion. Given their current trajectory, he’d be in a perfect developmental nest: early rotation minutes, less pressure, a culture still evolving.
We’d love to see how his 15.3 PPG, improving defense, and athleticism would look next to Franz’s two-way brilliance and Isaac’s defensive backbone. So Orlando’s message is loud but subtle: We’re not chasing flashy drama.
We’re building through cohesion, cap structure, and smart chemistry. That’s what real ascension looks like in 2025, not a one-off move.
A Last-Ditch Trade Idea That Gives Each Team What They Are Looking For
When you peel back the layers of this swirling offseason drama, it all comes down to timing and leverage, and the Warriors are playing both with efficiency. By rebuffing the overtures from Sacramento and Phoenix and standing firm behind either their structured two-year, $45 million offer or the $7.9 million qualifying path, Golden State has ensured nothing leaves the building cheaply.
If Kuminga ultimately gets moved, it’ll be for win-now assets, a proven shooter, a seasoned floor spacer, or even a playmaking guard that fits next to Curry and Butler, not a hasty deal born of frustration. And should that right offer never come? The Warriors have positioned themselves to pivot, either with Kuminga back on the roster or with the financial room to chase the next big fish.
Meanwhile, but maybe swap ‘meanwhile’ for ‘on the other side of the court’ for a little flavor, the Orlando Magic are still cooking up something delicious in the Eastern Conference kitchen. The real story is building, layer by layer, around Banchero, Wagner, and Bane.
If Orlando can slip another two-way wing, someone like Kuminga, into that rotation, it would be a masterstroke. Add a rising athletic perimeter defender with offensive upside, and suddenly you’ve got a backcourt that breathes defense and spacing, perfect harmony with Banchero’s craft, Wagner’s IQ, and Bane’s scoring bursts.
