Jonathan Kuminga opened this season, starting all 12 games. But then irregularities began to appear until he was completely out of the team rotation. Some blamed the player’s inconsistency, while some blamed it on back soreness. However, the harsh reality is that the Golden State Warriors‘ front office and Steve Kerr haven’t looked Kuminga in the eye in a while. Now, the 23-year-old player wants out. Isaiah Thomas blasted the Dubs on his X handle.

“He should!!! Warrios holding him hostage smh. Let the kid develop,” the former Los Angeles Lakers star posted.

Kuminga wanted a way out last season, but signed a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a team option. He wanted a bigger role. Despite speaking highly of the youngster, Steve Kerr somehow failed to deliver the same to him. The coach recently said he was “disappointed” with how Kuminga’s season has panned out.

Across 5 seasons, Jonathan Kuminga has mostly been a rotation player for the Warriors. He has averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while shooting 50.2% from the field. Additionally, NBA legends have long complained that the Dubs’ young unit lacks the skill to take the team to the next level, with excessive pressure on veterans like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Maybe (read: definitely) Kuminga is a prime example of the same.

The Warriors have turned veteran-centric. Kerr’s system relies heavily on Curry and Green. Sure, Curry is delivering a stellar performance this season, averaging more than 28 points per game. However, overreliance is affecting the Dubs’ overall performance. They are 8th in the Western Conference with a 53.7 win percentage.

Now, the Warriors have also clarified their demands for a Kuminga trade to go through, and it doesn’t look like they’re moving anything unless the package actually fits the criteria.

What it’ll take for the Golden State Warriors to trade Jonathan Kuminga

On Thursday, Kuminga became trade-eligible and demanded a move away from the Bay. Keep in mind, the 23-year-old forward hasn’t played a minute since December 18. League insiders, Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, indicated that the Warriors are shaping any potential deal around financial flexibility.

Therefore, the front office wants expiring deals in return.

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Contracts extending multiple seasons hold little appeal unless the return clearly tilts value in their favor. As a result, the Warriors continue to protect future cap space while maintaining leverage in discussions. This also simply puts the Dallas Mavericks’ big man, Anthony Davis, out of the equation.

Reports note that Keon Ellis, who is on a low-cost expiring deal, could be an added incentive for them.

If the right player shows up on the market, the Warriors would be open to moving multiple first-round draft picks, team sources said. Though they are more protective of their first-rounders in 2028 and beyond than their 2026 pick.

Both Kuminga and the Warriors are in a staring contest neither side wants to lose. The player’s diminished role tested his patience until his intent to leave became too obvious. With priorities unlikely to shift, this standoff will likely drag on with no clear winner in sight.