Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga have reached last exit, and Kings know it

At some point you stop calling it a “rough patch” and start calling it what it is. The Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga feel like they’ve reached the end of whatever this partnership was supposed to be.

And according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the rest of the league sees it too. The probability of Golden State trading Kuminga before February is described as “strong,” and that might actually be underselling it.

Kuminga can’t be moved until January 15, but the Warriors are already expected to explore the market. That’s usually code for “everyone knows how this ends.”

This isn’t new. Kuminga wanted out over the summer and had eyes for Sacramento. The Kings wanted him too.

League sources told DallasHoopsJournal that Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first were on the table. Sacramento even sold him on a bigger role and a path to becoming an All-Star. Kuminga was interested. Golden State said no.

But the Kings are expected to put on a full-court press again ahead of the February trade deadline, sources told Hoops Wire. Given where the Kings are today, many around the league expect a deal to happen. Eventually.

Shortly after offseason talks with the Kings proved fruitless, Kuminga got a new contract. Two years and $48.5 million. The team option is essentially a mechanism for Golden State or whoever trades for him to restructure the deal later.

Everyone shook hands and said the right things, but nothing about the situation actually changed.

The numbers haven’t changed much either. Kuminga is at 12.4 points per game and shooting 43.8 percent. The talent pops, but the fit never has.

And on Sunday, Steve Kerr simply didn’t play him. The fourth-highest-paid Warrior watched from the bench while the team tried to piece together a rotation.

Kuminga insists he’s staying professional and staying ready. Maybe he means it. But both sides know the truth.

Kerr doesn’t trust him and the Warriors aren’t built for another development project. They have to win now. Kuminga has to play now. Those timelines no longer run parallel.

This is one of those NBA situations that drags out longer than it should. But the direction is obvious.

Golden State and Jonathan Kuminga both need a fresh start. And it feels like we’re finally getting to the part where everyone stops pretending otherwise.