The Golden State Warriors player who has demanded to be traded immediately

The future of Jonathan Kuminga with the Golden State Warriors took a definitive turn this Thursday. On the first day his contract made him eligible for trade, the forward formally requested to be traded by the franchise before the February 5th deadline, as reported by league sources to ESPN.

The request comes after months of increasing tension between the player and the organization. Kuminga, in his fifth season in the NBA, signed a contract during the preseason for two years and 46.8 million dollars, a deal that included a team option for the second year and, due to its structure, prevented any trade until mid-January. Once that restriction was lifted, the move was immediate.

The relationship between Kuminga and the Warriors has hit rock bottom. The player started the season as a starter in the first 12 games, with Steve Kerr publicly supporting him and defending his role in the starting lineup. However, a series of inconsistent performances led to a drastic change in his role.

In the following weeks, Kuminga was completely eliminated from the rotation. The 23-year-old forward has not played a single minute in the last 13 games for Golden State. Kerr benched him and later, Kuminga declared himself unavailable citing back discomfort just an hour before the January 2nd game against Oklahoma City, despite the coach's intention to use him that same night.

Internal sources indicate that virtually all parties involved agree that a trade before the deadline would be the best possible outcome. This consensus includes Kuminga himself, the coaching staff, and the veterans in the locker room, increasingly frustrated to see a player with a 22.5 million-dollar salary not contributing while the team struggles for consistency.

"I'm disappointed for him because things didn't go as planned in the first few weeks," Kerr admitted in a recent media appearance.

A contract that left scars

Contract negotiations between Kuminga and the Warriors during the preseason were complex. According to sources, the player felt he had no real alternative but to accept the final structure of the agreement, a perception that added more friction to an already delicate relationship with the management.

However, that contract ended up providing Golden State with what it needed: a tradable asset leading up to the deadline.

In recent weeks, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the management have actively explored the market for a destination for Kuminga. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in the versatile forward, as confirmed by league sources, while other teams remain attentive due to the flexibility his contract offers.

The team option of 24.3 million dollars for the 2026-27 season is particularly appealing. The acquiring team can decline it to transform the contract into an expiring one, use it as matching salary in future trades, or keep Kuminga as a controlled bet for a 6'10" forward who averaged 24.3 points per game on 55.6% shooting during the playoff series against Minnesota last spring.

Nevertheless, Golden State has made its position clear. The priority is to receive expiring contracts, avoiding long-term salary commitments unless the return is clearly favorable.

Obstacles in the negotiations

This approach has tempered talks with Sacramento. The Warriors are unwilling to take on the three remaining years and 60.4 million dollars of Malik Monk's contract, although Keon Ellis's name and his affordable, soon-to-expire salary could enhance any package.

On the other hand, Golden State has not reached out to the Brooklyn Nets about Michael Porter Jr. in over a month and never seriously considered it, according to sources. Although there was interest in Trey Murphy III at one point, New Orleans has flatly rejected any inquiries related to their young forwards.

Should the opportunity arise to acquire an elite player, the Warriors would be willing to include multiple first-round picks, according to team sources. The franchise particularly values their selections from 2028 onwards, above those in 2026.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El jugador de los Warriors que ha exigido ser traspasado de inmediato