NBA Rumors: Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga, Kings, Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Pistons

Warriors

The Jonathan Kuminga–Steve Kerr disconnect hasn’t gone anywhere.

League sources told Dallas Hoops Journal’s Ashish Mathur that the relationship between the young forward and the longtime Warriors coach remains strained.

Golden State is stuck at 10-9 and searching for answers. Kuminga opened the year as a starter, held that spot for 12 straight games… then got benched in Game 13.

Now he’s dealing with bilateral knee tendinitis and remains out indefinitely.

“He said he’s not moving that well,” Kerr told reporters. “He needs to feel better and be able to move better before we can put him out there.”

Kuminga, 23, was averaging 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists before getting shut down. And behind the scenes, the frustration is real.

Sources told Mathur that he wanted out this past offseason and had eyes for Sacramento, where Doug Christie and the Kings’ front office reportedly pitched him on a featured role.

Sacramento even offered Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-rounder, sources say.

Golden State passed, then signed Kuminga to a two-year, $48.5 million deal — a contract designed for the second year to be ripped up and renegotiated once he becomes trade-eligible after January 15, 2026.

Most around the league expect the Warriors to move him once those restrictions lift.

Kuminga reportedly believes his growth has been stunted in Golden State. And at this point, it’s hard to argue he’s wrong.

Kings

Add another wrinkle to the Kings’ already chaotic start.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Zach LaVine has no idea whether he’ll pick up his $48.9 million player option for next season.

That’s a lot of money to not be sure about, but LaVine’s situation is messy. His play has dipped, his fourth-quarter minutes have evaporated, and Sacramento is sitting at 513.

LaVine is averaging 20.5 points on strong splits (49.8 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from deep), but he hasn’t been the impact piece the Kings hoped for after last year’s three-team trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.

Rich Paul represents him. He’s 30 now. He’s been to the playoffs once.

And suddenly, the Kings might be a seller before February.

Whether LaVine stays, goes, opts in or opts out… that part is anyone’s guess.

Jazz

Detroit keeps winning, Utah keeps losing, and the rumors keep heating up.

But if the Pistons ever did call about Lauri Markkanen, Utah’s asking price would start with one name. Ausar Thompson.

That’s the word from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who reports the Jazz would “almost certainly want” the 22-year-old wing in any Markkanen blockbuster.

Rival execs have long viewed Markkanen as a dream fit next to Cade Cunningham, but the price is steep.

Utah, per Fischer, even considered trading up for Thompson in the 2023 draft.

Markkanen is averaging 28.5 points while shooting 37.7 percent from three. He’s terrific. But Detroit is 15-2, and nothing about this season says “break up the core.” Just the opposite.

Thompson is putting up 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and doing it on elite energy and length.

Could this get revisited down the road, especially if Detroit flames out early?

Sure. But right now, the Pistons have zero incentive to mess with a good thing.