Jonathan Kuminga looked like he was finally ready to cash in. After years of criticism and comparisons to players drafted after him, the Golden State Warriors forward had his breakout moment in the 2025 playoffs. But now, with restricted free agency moving at a crawl, Kuminga finds himself in basketball limbo while teams haggle over his price tag.
What Are the Warriors Demanding for Jonathan Kuminga?
The Warriors didn’t just stumble into their playoff run last season. Although they bowed out in the second round, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, Golden State showed flashes of its championship form. They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in game to earn the seventh seed, then shocked everyone by taking out the second-seeded Houston Rockets in seven games.
A big reason for that success was Kuminga’s improved play. The forward had struggled early in his career before averaging a career-high 16.1 points per game during the 2023-24 season. His numbers did dip slightly in an injury-riddled 2024-25 campaign that limited him to just 47 games, but his playoff performance reminded everyone of his potential.
That potential has come with baggage, though. Kuminga received heavy criticism during his first two seasons after being selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Much of that criticism centered on players drafted after him, including Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengün at No. 16, New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III at No. 17, and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, who was picked with the very next selection after Kuminga.
Everything began to change during that 2023-24 season. After showing what he could do in the 2025 postseason, Kuminga entered the offseason positioned to secure a significant contract. However, that hasn’t happened. Restricted free agency has been considered “ice cold”, which has given the Warriors significant leverage.
Now, NBA insider Zach Lowe is shedding light on why this situation might drag on even longer. Appearing on “Swish Access,” Lowe explained that it may take even longer for Kuminga to find a home.
“From what I’ve heard in the Kuminga situation, I’m not sure what you’ve heard, this might take a while because I think the Warriors want real stuff back to the tune of like a decent young player, a first-round pick,” Lowe said.
Zach Lowe on the Kuminga trade talks:
“From what I’ve heard in the Jonathan Kuminga situation, I’m not sure what you’ve heard, this might take a while because I think the Warriors want real stuff back, like a decent young player, a first-round pick.”
(Via @ZachLowe_NBA) #NBA pic.twitter.com/WyCdX3ouxh
— Swish Access (@SwishAccess) July 8, 2025
“And the team that’s getting Kuminga is like, well, because of the base year compensation rules, which are super complicated, there’s got to be salary kind of flying around the league. If we’re dumping money to get Kuminga, like the team we’re dumping to might ask us for another pick. And at that point, the price is just a little rich for our blood.”
How Many Teams Are Actually Interested in Kuminga?
The market for Kuminga appears smaller than many initially expected. Lowe believes the forward may not have as many suitors as originally anticipated, with some teams that showed early interest now backing away due to financial constraints or other priorities.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen here,” Lowe added. “I don’t know if there’s any team outside the Bulls, Kings, Heat, if they’re even still in it now that they’ve done this Powell thing, I guess they could still be for sure. You know the Wizards were mentioned, I don’t think that was ever true. I don’t think the Wizards are in, I’ve never got the sense that the Nets are super in. We could just be looking at a little bit of a old school restricted free agency standoff here.”
This shrinking market creates an interesting dynamic. Teams like Chicago and Sacramento could offer Kuminga the opportunity to carry a larger offensive load, which might help him develop his skills and increase his value. However, the financial complexity of acquiring him through trade makes even interested teams hesitant to pull the trigger.
The numbers from last season show why teams are intrigued. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes per game while shooting 45.4% from the field and 30.5% from beyond the arc.
For now, though, Kuminga remains in limbo. The Warriors want significant value in return, potential suitors are weighing the financial complications, and the player himself waits to see where his career heads next. This old-school restricted free agency standoff could stretch well into the summer, leaving everyone involved in an uncomfortable waiting game.
