Impatience in the Bay Area continues to grow as the Golden State Warriors have yet to make an addition this offseason. While Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton have been linked to the Warriors, restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga continues to block their path after a contract standoff.
Kuminga, who has turned down an annual salary of $20 million from the Warriors this offseason, is reportedly looking to leave the Warriors in search of a larger role. And while the Warriors maintain their stance of not losing assets in a trade for the 22-year-old forward, the cap space he continues to occupy restricts the team from providing better contracts to incoming players.
The Warriors’ Kuminga quotient appears far from solved as the Sacramento Kings are now shutting down Golden State’s interest in their rising stars.
Kings Refuse to Let Go Of Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis
With Kuminga’s desire to leave clear, the Warriors have engaged with his suitors to carry out a deal while also exploring sign-and-trade options. The Kings, who have appeared as the frontrunners in a deal for Kuminga, have fielded multiple offers to the Warriors. But none have seemed to satisfy their division rivals.
The deal, however, is expected to be further stalled as Sacramento has shut down the Warriors’ developing interest in Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray, as per Kings Insider Jason Anderson.
The Kings have made Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis untouchable in trade talks involving Jonathan Kuminga, per @JandersonSacBee pic.twitter.com/bhMyJqRJbI
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 30, 2025
Warriors, who have not shown much interest in the Kings’ assets, were reportedly interested in acquiring either Murray or Ellis in the deal. However, the Kings have underscored their value to the franchise, deeming them untouchable in the negotiations.
Kings’ Lengthy Pursuit of Kuminga Continues
Earlier this month, the Kings put forth a package that included Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and a first-round pick, which the Warriors declined. Sacramento has also attempted to include Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan in the deal to ship the two out, but has had no success.
With Murray and Ellis unavailable in negotiations and the Warriors’ lack of interest in the offered pieces, it seems the Kings’ chase for Kuminga has hit a brick wall.
While the Warriors continue to exercise patience, they are undoubtedly wearing thin as the start of the season draws closer. So even though the Kings continue to be in talks for Kuminga, they must move fast, as the Phoenix Suns have also been keeping tabs on the forward.
Kuminga is reportedly seeking a contract that pays him $30 million annually, a mark the Warriors fell well short of. Although Kuminga has shown flashes of his high potential, his inconsistency and irregular playing time make the sum a gamble organizations around the league seem unwilling to take. In addition, there is limited cap space available to teams around the league right now, and it appears even more unlikely that Kuminga will be granted his wish.
The Warriors must be adamant about making the most of Steph Curry’s final stretch in the league. However, the team will likely remain stuck until a decision is made on Kuminga’s future.
