The Golden State Warriors are in a strange offseason situation, and a resolution doesn’t look imminent.
Over the past few weeks, nothing has had a stranglehold on the NBA news cycle quite like the Jonathan Kuminga saga. While there have been other restricted free agents looking to secure their future, Kuminga is the only one who has ever seemed unlikely to return to his team.
The Warriors have spent the past couple of years struggling to find the right role for Kuminga. With Steve Kerr having to balance major roster moves, such as the midseason trade for Jimmy Butler, the Warriors have been in a strange position when it comes to giving Kuminga what he wants.
Still a young forward with plenty of potential, Kuminga could still blossom into one of the top forwards in the league at some point. However, he might have to wait until next summer to find a new team, with all signs pointing to Golden State keeping him around.
A quick (and belated) follow-up on the Jonathan Kuminga reporting from Friday: Anyone saying the first-round pick protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors sign-and-trade is wrong, as I'm told Golden State really doesn't want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody…
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 4, 2025
One of the reasons the Warriors will likely keep him is the need of a sign-and-trade for Kuminga to find a new squad. To properly execute a sign-and-trade, Golden State almost certainly has to send out another player, and Sam Amick of The Athletic recently reported that the Warriors have been unwilling to put Buddy Hield or Moses Moody in those discussions.
Considering the role both of those players have played in recent years, the Warriors would love to keep them around, as they give the team some reliable depth on the wing. While the Warriors are still trying to sort out the Kuminga saga, it appears that Hield and Moody will be set for big roles in Golden State again next season.