Jonathan Kuminga asks out, turning Warriors tension into action

The Warriors–Jonathan Kuminga situation has officially crossed from awkward to actionable.

Now trade-eligible, Kuminga has formally requested a trade, according to Anthony Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN. The request doesn’t come as much of a shock. If anything, it’s paperwork catching up to reality.

Kuminga’s desire for a fresh start has been an open secret for months. During the offseason, the former No. 7 overall pick explored possibilities with teams such as the Kings and Suns while navigating restricted free agency.

Those conversations never turned into anything concrete. No team was able to extend an offer sheet that pushed Golden State out of its comfort zone, and no sign-and-trade proposal rose to the level that convinced the Warriors to move him.

So Kuminga returned, signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal that includes a team option for 2026/27. On paper, it kept everyone flexible. On the floor, it solved nothing.

He opened the season as a starter. By November, he was coming off the bench. Not long after that, he was out of the rotation entirely. Kuminga hasn’t logged a single minute since December 18.

Now the clock actually matters. Golden State can trade him without restriction, and Kuminga has made it clear he’s ready to move on. The Warriors, meanwhile, must decide whether to convert a stalled relationship into assets or continue carrying a situation that’s gone stale.

This was always headed here. The only question now is how fast it moves.