“Featured part of the core with the belief of the franchise and coaching staff behind him.” Jonathan Kuminga’s agent had straightened out all the demands that the former seventh-overall pick was looking for as a restricted free agent this offseason. This was even though the Golden State Warriors had already given him a five-year, $150 million extension last Summer, which he turned down. The reason was simple–In his four seasons with the team, he was never the it guy.

In fact, even after a good third year, he only saw 10 starts last season, lower than his rookie season with 12 starts, adding 15.3 points on 45.4% shooting from the field with 4.6 rebounds and an MVP-esque job in a second-round loss to the Wolves. Nevertheless, Sacramento came knocking with Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and two seconds. But the Golden State Warriors called it a “buy-low attempt” to continue looking for young talent and a first-rounder if the Kings don’t give up Keegan Murray.

Now, in five days of Kuminga already being a free agent, the Dubs have already turned their backs on the Kings, Miami, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and the latest player in the trade game–Washington. And seems like a new reality is setting in for Steve Kerr and Kuminga: Does no one in the league want him? If they do, who really holds the leverage? Sam and Tony of Light Years: A Golden State Warriors Pod discussed their thoughts.

Sam Esfandiari asked his co-host, Tommy Gunn, “Who do you think has the actual leverage in this Warriors-Kings deal… or Kuminga? There’s technically three parties at play…” Responding to it, Gunn was as straight as he could be. “It is the Warriors,” he pointed out. Reason? “Cause he’s a restricted free agent and nobody else has cap space. Like if you want him, you have to give something up.” He also listed who was close and what didn’t work out.

“The only team that could make this really hairy for the Warriors was the Nets, and they clearly didn’t want him… They’re really feeling the pressure a little bit. They had, I don’t know if it was ever offered to him, but reportedly, last summer, the Warriors did make a much better offer than Kuminga is seeing right now in restricted free agency.” So who’s in a squeeze right now? His agent.

“And in a lot of leagues like this, they’re coming from Sacramento people, or from Miami or the Pelicans, the Bulls; it feels kinda agent-directed.” If it is the Sacramento Kings, who has the better leverage? The response was expected: “I think Kuminga maybe has more leverage than the Kings… but Kings don’t have any… what leverage do the Kings have?… Like they don’t have any leverage here.”

“And I guess, like Scott Perry’s proven, in a way, they built a nice team in New York. I won’t deny that. But they had to give up a lot of assets to do it. They liquidated a lot of picks. It’s not like he’s exactly a tough negotiator. Who else was giving up five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges?”

As Gunn paused, Sam added, “Right now, it feels like everything’s silent and everything’s moving in a different direction.” He then continued, “We haven’t really talked about this a lot, but it feels like the Warriors have tried to drum up a trade with a few specific teams–the Kings, the Pelicans, the Bulls have gotten silent… they’re really trying to get this going through teams they view as…I mean it’s like, it doesn’t seem like they have a lot of offers. It also tells you what the league thinks, to be honest.”

Interrupting, Tommy added, “You’re saying the silent part out loud. Nobody wants him.” “Not with the expectations that are being put into the world, which is: I am the shining star. Build everything around me,” Esfandiari noted. “I’m a top-two option. I want $30+ million a year. I want this and this and that,” Tommy concluded.

Now, Jonathan Kuminga’s camp feels the heat, and his agent is working overtime to stir up buzz. Last summer’s $150 million offer from the Golden State Warriors? Way better than what’s on the table now. With leaks popping from all corners—Sacramento Kings, Miami, New Orleans, Chicago—it screams strategy. But here’s the kicker: JK might have a sliver of leverage, while the Kings are walking in empty-handed, hoping confidence counts as currency.

However, if Sacramento can steal Al Horford from the Dubs… no, that’s a far-fetched dream, because they lack the leverage. Speaking of Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets, they were on board for a conversation with the Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga. But that plot is suddenly very quiet, as if nothing ever happened. And well, there seems to be a reason behind it. To be fair, not just the Nets, every team that ever showed an interest in JK has gone silent. And that makes you wonder why?

Why does nobody want to take Jonathan Kuminga away from the Golden State Warriors?

The Kings are at the table, but they’re bluffing with empty pockets. The market’s cooled, the buzz has faded, and now the Golden State Warriors are quietly knocking on doors—Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Kings—hoping someone bites. But it’s crickets. Chicago feels more chaotic than a chessboard, and the rest? Radio silence. Golden State’s pushing the trade narrative, but right now, it’s like yelling into a void with nothing but echoes staring back.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are tangled in a $207.8 million mess, juggling contracts like it’s a financial circus hour. With nine players devouring $170.5 million and Steph Curry locked in for $178 million through 2027, they can’t cut the core. The second apron creeps closer, and Golden State’s playing salary cap Twister—blindfolded, dizzy, and one misstep from face-planting.

And as of now, it looks like the Nets want to lose next year. Brooklyn’s playing chess in a league full of checkers. They scooped up five first-rounders, passed on big swings, and welcomed Terance Mann’s contract like a tanking trophy. The mission? Lose gloriously. Win 15, maybe 16 games. With Jordy Fernandez too competent for comfort, they’re stacking rookies to keep the bar low. It’s clear now—they saw Kuminga coming and walked the other way. That rebuild? It’s by design, and it’s beautifully brutal.

So here we are—Kuminga’s stuck in limbo, the Warriors juggling wallets, and the Kings tossing pebbles like they’re boulders. The market has gone cold, the whispers louder than the offers. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s busy tanking with style. Everyone’s circling, but no one’s landing. And JK? He’s caught in a high-stakes stare-down where belief is the currency, and the bank’s still closed.