5 Teams Already Dreaming of a Jonathan Kuminga Deal at the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline

Our long NBA offseason nightmare is over. Jonathan Kuminga is officially headed back to the Golden State Warriors after signing a two-year, $48.5 million deal.

ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news on Tuesday, but his report was loaded with qualifiers.

For one thing, his post on X says there's a "team option designed for the contract to be ripped up and renegotiated next summer."

And in his ESPN story, he all but forecasts a trade in 2026.

"Now, both sides understand the likelihood of exploring trades when Kuminga is eligible to be moved in mid-January," Charania wrote. "As part of the deal, he is waiving his inherent no-trade clause."

And that prompts the question: When that restriction is lifted, which teams should angle for the springy, soon-to-be-23-year-old forward?

We have the answer below.

Sacramento Kings

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The Sacramento Kings were one of the teams most commonly linked to Kuminga throughout the summer, but a sign-and-trade was complicated by a rule that made salary-matching difficult.

That rule won't apply in January and February, and Kuminga's salary came in at a very tradable number.

If the Kings could land him for DeMar DeRozan and some draft capital, a deal might make sense for both sides.

Kuminga and the Warriors, even after today's deal, seem destined for a breakup. The partnership never had the heartwarming reconciliation at the end of just about every romcom. It's been almost entirely conflict.

And maintaining that tension (assuming Kuminga can't suddenly sell coach Steve Kerr on his value) is far from ideal in Stephen Curry's age-37 season.

From now until the end of his career, Golden State should be treating every month from Curry like it's precious. And while DeRozan's non-analytically-friendly game may not seem to fit the Warriors, it's a team that might finally be able to sell him on a super sixth man role (something he probably should've spent much more of his career playing).

Against backups, DeRozan's mid-range scoring and playmaking could be a huge weapon. And when sharing the floor with Curry, DeRozan would enjoy better spacing than he's typically had throughout his career.

For the Kings, especially if they were willing to give up a pick, this would be a gamble. Kuminga has never had an above-average box plus/minus. He's had an above-average three-point percentage once (in 2022-23). His career-high scoring average is 16.1, and he's never provided much in the way of ancillary numbers.

But his combination of size (6'8" with a 6'11" wingspan) and athleticism remain intriguing. He has the occasional finish at the rim that's reminiscent of a young Amar'e Stoudemire. And there are flashes of both perimeter and small-ball 5 instincts.

He and Keegan Murray could combine to form a sort of positionless forward combo that could headline lineups whenever Sacramento's next era starts.

Phoenix Suns

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The Phoenix Suns were another team that flirted with Kuminga this summer, but their overtures were never all that serious.

According to reports, Golden State denied an offer of Royce O'Neale and second-round picks (a framework influenced by the aforementioned trade restriction).

Now, Phoenix can offer Dillon Brooks or Grayson Allen (along with better draft capital) to bring in a still-developing forward with more upside than any of the young 3s or 4s on its roster.

Such a move maybe doesn't fit a Devin Booker-focused timeline. The face of the Suns' franchise turns 29 this month.

But flipping one of those older wings for Kuminga would give the Suns a young trio of Jalen Green, Kuminga and Mark Williams that could help Booker better compete in three or four years.

Miami Heat

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Would the Warriors be interested in an Andrew Wiggins reunion?

They parted ways with one of the most important players from their 2022 title run to land Jimmy Butler, but the situation with Miami has evolved to the point that it should be interested in stockpiling younger talent.

The last few years suggest a Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo core, absent Butler, isn't a title contender.

Eyeing the long-term future by prioritizing the development of players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis and, in the event of a trade, Kuminga, might be a wise approach.

And for the Warriors, there wouldn't be a learning curve for Wiggins with the read-and-react system. Like DeRozan, he could slot into a dynamic sixth man's role. Or, because he already has so much experience with Golden State, he might even be able to play some jumbo 2-guard with Curry, Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford.

Chicago Bulls

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This one might have been a little easier to sell before the Horford addition became official, but the former Atlanta Hawk and Boston Celtic turned 39 this summer. Adding another center behind him might not be a bad idea.

And Nikola Vučević, though he's post-prime too, has a game that would fit the Warriors well and potentially dominate opposing second units.

The 34-year-old is an underrated ball-mover who has two 40-percent-from-three seasons in his last five (his overall mark over that half-decade is 35.5 percent).

For the Chicago Bulls, adding Kuminga to a core that already includes Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue would give them a wealth of size, potential and versatility.

Washington Wizards

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The Washington Wizards would have to find some more money to include in a deal, but Corey Kispert is a wing who's pretty easy to imagine in the Warriors system.

He's a solid off-ball mover with a career 38.2 three-point percentage. And over his last two seasons, he's even shown a hint of playmaking ability.

Lineups with Curry, Buddy Hield and Kispert could absolutely torch the nets.

Washington, meanwhile, would add another upside play to a roster that already includes Tre Johnson, AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr, Cam Whitmore, Bilal Coulibaly and others (depending on who else would head to Golden State).

At this point in a rebuild, a team should want as many shots at stardom as possible. A Kuminga trade would give them one more.