The Golden State Warriors‘ playoff run might have fizzled out with a Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves, but the offseason rumor mill? That’s just heating up, and Jonathan Kuminga is right in the thick of it. The athletic, high-flying forward’s future in the Bay Area is suddenly looking as shaky as a last-second heave, and Draymond Green‘s recent post-game remarks just tossed a lot more fuel on that fire, leaving Warriors fans dissecting every word.
Never one to sugarcoat the NBA’s harsh realities, Draymond spoke about the young guns’ development after the season ended, Kuminga included. But it was his specific, carefully chosen phrasing about JK’s future that pricked-up ears. “Obviously, J.K.’s got the contract situation,” Green noted, before pointedly adding, “I’m always wishing him the best with that, been in that situation, whether it’s here or elsewhere, you just wish him the best.”
“Here or elsewhere.” For a guy as direct as Draymond, those words are practically a neon sign flashing ‘UNCERTAINTY AHEAD.’ It’s hardly a ringing endorsement for Kuminga staying put. Green later doubled down on the league’s churn when pressed about roster changes: “I think every team in the NBA feel like they need personnel help that’s not in the building… I don’t know any team that came back with the exact same roster next year.”
He put it down to the “nature of the business,” where “contracts happen, money situations happen.” And while he later expressed “1,000%” confidence in the young core’s potential, that “here or elsewhere” specifically tied to Kuminga still hangs in the air.
This isn’t just smoke and mirrors around a contract, either. Whispers of locker-room friction have been making the rounds, particularly concerning Kuminga and Head Coach Steve Kerr. Logan Murdock dropped a notable report alleging Kerr was “incensed” during a late-season tilt against the Blazers after Kuminga reportedly looked off Stephen Curry multiple times to hunt his own shot. This wasn’t just a heat-of-the-moment spat; Kuminga found himself with DNPs (Did Not Play) in the regular-season finale and then again in their crucial play-in game. According to Murdock, by the time the playoffs rolled around, “many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.”
That contract Draymond mentioned is the elephant in the room. Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in 2021 and a piece of their 2022 championship puzzle, is up for an extension and is looking at a big payday—think $30 million a year, maybe more. For the Warriors, who are already juggling a hefty payroll with their established stars aging, that’s a serious financial puzzle.
This has led to heavy speculation, as NBA writer Tim Kawakami suggested, that the “likeliest is that he will be gone,” potentially through a sign-and-trade that lets Golden State get something back. Kuminga definitely showed his talent in the playoffs, putting up 15.3 points over eight games, but the mix of his looming contract, the reported tensions, and Draymond’s very diplomatic well wishes has the Dub Nation understandably on edge about his future.
Warriors and Kuminga debacle: When your team “wishes you the best… elsewhere”
So, what gives with Jonathan Kuminga? He clearly has talent—you don’t just accidentally lead your team in scoring during a playoff series (as he did against the Wolves) while being fifth in minutes without some serious game. He dropped 30 in Game 3, 23 in Game 4, and 26 in the Game 5 elimination.
When Steph Curry went down, Kuminga stepped up, showing he can be that explosive scorer the Warriors desperately needed. Charles Barkley even said it on Inside the NBA: “He’s the only guy on that bench that’s explosive. And he’s the only one you look at and say, ‘He can play with these Wolves guys’.” That’s high praise from Chuck.
But here’s the rub, and it’s a big one: how does that ball-dominant, rim-attacking style actually mesh when Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler are healthy and running the show? Steve Kerr himself reportedly told 95.7 The Game that Kuminga “is best when he has the ball in his hands for sure.” That’s not exactly a groundbreaking revelation, but it highlights the core dilemma.
October 20, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right) talks to forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
If Kuminga needs the ball to be Kuminga, where do those touches come from in an offense that, by design, flows through its Hall of Fame backcourt? This echoes Kenny Smith‘s sharp observation on Inside: “They didn’t extend him. And they don’t play him when Steph is there. Meaning, his contribution, they don’t feel helps when Steph is there.” Ouch. That’s the kind of analysis that makes you think.
The reported incident where Kuminga looked off Curry to hunt his own shot, allegedly irking Kerr, isn’t just a footnote; it’s a symptom of this potential stylistic clash. And Kerr’s reported post-game message to Kuminga after a hesitant shooting performance—“when we get back here next year, you are not gonna turn down a single shot”—sounds like a coach trying to build confidence, but it also subtly hints at the ongoing push-and-pull of Kuminga finding his offensive identity within the Warriors’ structure.
Now, layer on that contract situation. Kuminga is a restricted free agent, meaning the Warriors can match any offer he gets. But after reportedly turning down (or not being aggressively offered) a $30 million per year extension before the season, what’s his market value now, especially after that playoff scoring binge? And more importantly, what are the Warriors willing to pay for a player who, in their current championship-chasing construction with Curry and Butler, might be viewed as a “potential third scoring option” rather than a primary focus?
This offseason is shaping up to be a massive crossroads for the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga. And if the “elsewhere” scenario plays out, the rumor mill is already churning with potential landing spots. According to a recent report from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls have all reportedly shown significant interest in acquiring Kuminga this offseason, likely via a sign-and-trade.
The Nets, in particular, have been linked to Kuminga for a while and possess a chest of trade assets that could appeal to Golden State. One name floated in connection to a Nets deal is Cameron Johnson, a player the Warriors reportedly had eyes on before they landed Jimmy Butler.
While Chicago and Miami also have pieces that could intrigue the Warriors, the emergence of multiple suitors could easily create a bidding war for the 22-year-old forward. This puts the Warriors in a tricky but potentially advantageous spot if they do decide to move on. They could leverage this interest to get a solid return for Kuminga, helping them retool around their veteran core.
However, it also means they’ll have to watch a player they drafted and developed, one who showed serious flashes of star potential, possibly thrive in another jersey. The “what ifs” of a Jonathan Kuminga departure will loom large for Warriors fans for a long time if he reaches his ceiling somewhere else.
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