Warriors Star Eyes Shocking Move to Division Rival: Report

Golden State Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga is reportedly open to joining the Sacramento Kings, their Pacific Division rival, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater. The Kings' pitch, delivered in recent days during Kuminga's first communication with Kings GM Scott Perry, coach Doug Christie, and assistant GM B.J. Armstrong, resonated strongly with him and addressed what he was seeking from the Warriors.

A key element of the Kings' pitch was the offer of a starting role, something the Warriors are not currently guaranteeing Kuminga. Slater emphasizes that Kuminga's priority is securing the specific on-court opportunity he desires, not just the exact contract terms.

The 22-year-old forward aims to build upon his strong finish to last season, where he averaged 24.3 points on 55.4% shooting (38.9% from 3-point range) in the final four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, this performance occurred without Stephen Curry, who was injured. Kuminga was largely outside the Warriors' main rotation during the postseason, only receiving significant minutes when key players like Curry or Jimmy Butler were unavailable.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently offered Kuminga a role described as significant but situational, mirroring his limited playoff usage. Slater also reported that Kerr has been actively involved in trying to resolve the situation.