Warriors prioritizing expiring contracts in Jonathan Kuminga trade

The Warriors have moved past the vague phase of the Jonathan Kuminga talks and into something more specific. Namely, clean books matter.

League sources told ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania that Golden State is prioritizing expiring contracts in any Kuminga trade. The Warriors are not interested in taking on multiyear money unless it’s viewed internally as “no-brainer positive value.”

That stance helps explain why a framework involving Kings guard Malik Monk never gained traction, despite outside speculation.

One Kings player who does register, however, is fellow Kings guard Keon Ellis. Sources tell ESPN the Warriors view Ellis as a possible “sweetener” rather than a centerpiece, the type of controllable piece that fits their broader calculus.

Golden State is willing to spend real draft capital under the right circumstances. Per Slater and Charania, the Warriors would consider moving multiple first-round picks for a star, though team sources indicate they’re far more comfortable parting with their 2026 first than with selections in 2028 and beyond.

On the court, the situation has grown even murkier. Kuminga appeared positioned for a return to the rotation on Jan. 2 when several regulars were sidelined, only to be scratched late with lower back soreness. According to The Athletic, that episode created internal frustration. Multiple team sources expressed skepticism about the injury itself.

“I wouldn’t have played either,” one Warriors player said. “It’s clear the coach doesn’t believe in him.”

That quote may say more than any cap breakdown. The Warriors are negotiating from a position of structure and discipline.

Kuminga, meanwhile, is negotiating from a place where trust appears broken. The longer this drags on, the more the solution looks inevitable rather than optional.