Jonathan Kuminga, a young forward for the Golden State Warriors, has asked for a trade on January 15, 2026, the first day he could be moved after signing his contract extension. This move ends months of tension between him and the team, as he has not played in the last 13 games. Fans and experts see this as no surprise given his bench role and injuries this season.

Kuminga started strong, playing and starting the first 12 games under coach Steve Kerr. But after some poor play, he lost his spot and became a backup. A knee injury kept him out for seven games after November 12, and an ankle problem caused more misses in December. He played just nine minutes against the Phoenix Suns on December 12 and has not appeared since, including ruling himself out with back soreness on January 2.

In 18 games with 13 starts, Kuminga averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2-2.6 assists per game. This is lower than his 15.8 points from the past two seasons in similar minutes. The Warriors, sitting eighth in the West at 20-18, have a deep rotation that left him out.

Kuminga signed a two-year, $46.8 million extension in the offseason after a long fight over terms. He wanted a player option, but the team gave him a team option for the second year, which upset him. This deal made him untradeable until January 15, with a $24.3 million team option next season that makes him flexible for trades.

The NBA trade deadline is February 5, 2026, giving the Warriors about three weeks to deal him. Sources say everyone involved, Kuminga, Kerr, and veterans, agrees a trade is best to fix the "mediocre" team situation.

Teams like the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in Kuminga for his upside as a 6-foot-7 wing. The Kings offered pieces like Keon Ellis, but talks stalled over taking Malik Monk's $60.4 million deal over three years, the Warriors want expiring contracts only. Other teams are watching because his contract can expire or extend easily.

Golden State has checked on New Orleans' Trey Murphy III and Denver's Michael Porter Jr., but no real talks happened recently. They would add draft picks for a star but protect future ones like 2028. Rival teams expect a deal before the deadline despite no promises from Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy.

Last season, Kuminga fell out of the playoff rotation, sparking his contract holdout. He shone late in the playoffs with 24.3 points on 55.6% shooting against Minnesota. Kerr called him a "secure starter" early this year but demoted him after struggles. Meetings between Kuminga and Kerr failed to fix things, leading to his demand.

The Warriors used the tough free agency market to sign him but created a trade chip. Now, with the team in playoff contention but inconsistent, moving him could bring salary relief or assets.

Kuminga wasted no time requesting the trade on day one of eligibility. The Warriors are shopping him but might wait until summer if no good deal comes. His youth, size, and potential make him attractive, but his attitude and inconsistency are risks. A trade could restart his career elsewhere while helping Golden State tweak the roster before the deadline.

Jonathan Kuminga's explosive trade demand from the Warriors doesn't just ignite Day 1 drama; it spotlights Golden State's rotation depth, from Curry's clutch scoring to Green's defensive anchor, fueling GM Mike Dunleavy's push to flip a disgruntled star into picks, expiring salary, or Western Conference ammo before rivals like Sacramento or Dallas pounce. When young talents demand fresh starts amid injuries, bench roles, and playoff pushes, they spark debates on rebuild tweaks, wing upgrades, and Pacific Division battles.

Bankroll U tracks these NBA moves in real time, slicing through trade rumors to uncover player fits, team synergies, and edges on global sports like Warriors' roster pivots unfolding. Our Playmakers monitor these trade sagas live, and how top targets reshape contender odds, futures bets, and divisional dynamics before the market adjusts.

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