The Warriors and Kuminga have been dancing around each other for months. Currently, the ball is in Kuminga's court in the form of a $75 million, three year contract.
For Kuminga, the bigger concern is how he fits into the Warrior's on-court strategy. His role, minutes, and usage change erratically from week-to-week. Apparently, he has gone so far as asking the Warriors if they even actually want him there.
Kuminga is likely worried that the Warriors are just trying to pay him to stay just to keep him from playing for another team and have no real plan in place for him. That's why the Kings need to start making bold moves.
Jonathan Kuminga on the Sacramento Kings
Reports have indicated that Kuminga is quite interested in playing for the Kings. The front office has made it clear to to him that he would be the centerpiece of what will likely turn into a major rebuild.
That is the kind of position Kuminga is looking for. Playing for Sacramento gives him the chance to show his value, and be part of something bigger. For the Kings, they get a young, talented power forward who will balance out their roster and help make them contenders.
At the same time, it's not hard to blame the Warriors for wanting to avoid that outcome. The Kings are one of their California rivals. The last thing the Warriors want is a resurging Kings led by Kuminga.
Kuminga on the Kings will happen
The Warriors are likely fighting a losing battle, though. Kuminga doesn't seem particularly happy on their team. And they would have make drastic changes they don't want to make to fix that issue.
Alternatively, Kuminga wants to to play in Sacramento. The Kings want Kuminga to play in Sacramento. There's a certainly inevitability to this that makes it seem like it is going to happen.
At this point, it's looking more likely that Kuminga signs the one-year qualifying offer with the Warriors which features a no-trade clause. It less money, but it puts him in the driver's seat for his career. He then becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and probably ends up with the Kings.
It delays the move a year but in means that Kuminga and the Kings get what they want out of the situation. The Warriors, on the other hand, end up with nothing, which would be the icing on the cake to some fans.