Kings' Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis Reportedly Off Limits in Jonathan Kuminga Trade Talks

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly keeping Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis "off limits" in sign-and-trade talks for Golden State Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, Jason Anderson reported Wednesday for the Sacramento Bee.

According to Anderson, the Warriors aren't moved by the Kings' current offer of Devin Carter, Dario Saric and draft assets that could include a protected first-rounder or multiple second-rounders.

Anderson believes the Warriors would be "quick to pull the trigger" if offered Murray or Ellis, but added that the Kings have not discussed moving either player.

The Athletic's Anthony Slater previously reported that the Warriors are seeking "at least" a first-round pick and a young player in return for Kuminga.

Murray, drafted at No. 4 in 2022, and Ellis, signed as a free agent shortly afterward, are both set to play this season on expiring contracts.

Murray is a restricted free agent after the 2025 campaign, while Ellis could hit unrestricted free agency if not re-signed by next spring after the Kings picked up his team option for next season, per Spotrac.

It sounds like the Kings are focused on signing both players to new contracts rather than trading them in the final year of their current deals.

A Kings front office executive recently told Spotrac's Keith Smith that picking up Ellis' option rather than making him an RFA had been "a show of trust," and that the team is working on extensions for both him and Murray.

The Kings have simultaneously reportedly been pursuing a sign-and-trade for Kuminga throughout the offseason.

Before the Kings acquired Dennis Schröder in a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons earlier this month, NBC Sports Bay Area's Ali Thanawalla and Tristi Rodriguez previously reported that the Kings and Warriors had discussed a three-team trade with the Pistons which would have combined sign-and-trade deals for both Schröder and Kuminga.

That trade involved the Kings sending Carter, Saric and two second-round picks to the Warriors, per Thanawalla and Rodriguez.

The Kings ultimately completed the deal for Schröder in a separate move before reportedly turning their focus back to Kuminga.

ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel has previously reported Kuminga is looking for a deal in the range of $30 million per year.

Slater said earlier this month that the reason Kuminga hasn't yet reached compromise is mostly because he is seeking a guarantee of more playing time during the 2025-26 season.

The Kings are reportedly willing to offer Kuminga that opportunity, with ESPN's Shams Charania saying last week that both Sacramento and the Phoenix Suns had offered the forward "significant minutes and a starting-caliber role in their lineup."

If the Warriors ultimately decide not to complete a trade to either team, Kuminga could take his $7.9 million qualifying offer and test free agency next season.

Trading Kuminga on an expiring deal could limit what return the Warriors could expect for the forward next season, however. That could motivate the team to finalize a trade this summer, even if that deal won't involve Murray or Ellis.