Jonathan Kuminga has no desire to remain with the Golden State Warriors, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, adding fresh urgency to the team’s trade deadline decisions less than two weeks away.
Speaking on Thursday, Haynes reported that Kuminga is “very much hoping that he will be dealt by deadline,” citing sources who describe a fractured relationship between the 23-year-old forward and the organization.
Haynes added that Kuminga’s relationship with head coach Steve Kerr is “beyond repair,” with the player feeling devalued and unsupported despite his on-court production when given opportunities.
Kuminga is in the first year of a two-year, $46.8 million contract that includes a team option for the second season, a structure that complicates his market value for rival executives evaluating deadline deals.
The former seventh overall pick has appeared in 20 games this season, averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 23.8 minutes per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field.
Despite those numbers, his role has been inconsistent, including a stretch in which he did not play for 16 consecutive games prior to this week, fueling frustration on both sides.
Golden State recently reintroduced Kuminga into rotation following Jimmy Butler III’s season-ending ACL injury, viewing the coming weeks as both a roster evaluation period and a brief showcase ahead of the deadline.
Haynes reported that Kuminga was expected to receive an expanded workload, though he continues to come off the bench as the Warriors gauge his fit and market interest.
The situation became more complicated Thursday night when Kuminga twisted his left ankle and hyperextended his left knee against the Dallas Mavericks, exiting after nine minutes despite scoring 10 points and posting a plus-18 plus-minus.
The Warriors later ruled him out with knee soreness, though a league source told ESPN that initial testing did not indicate a serious injury.
Earlier this week, Kuminga responded to a larger role with 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench, showing the productivity that has intrigued rival teams despite concerns over usage and fit.
League sources told Haynes that teams such as the Sacramento Kings remain interested, while others believe Golden State may hold Kuminga through the deadline and revisit trade talks in the offseason.
Golden State enters the deadline with a 25-21 record, sitting eighth in the Western Conference, balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term roster clarity.
