This offseason has been a case study of why Sacramento Kings fans have little faith in their team. After a disappointing regular season, they were hoping to see some sort of plan from the team's front office. Instead, they have witnessed them drop the ball again.
Again and again, we have heard about the Kings targeting Jonathan Kuminga, currently of the Golden State Warriors. But the latest reporting about Kuminga more or less confirms that he's not going to Sacramento, the offseason is basically over, and the Kings won't look very different in 2025-26.
The Kings weren't willing to fight for Kuminga
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints recently revealed that Kuminga will probably return to the Warriors. The team will allegedly sign him to a short-term deal in hopes that he can improve his trade value before the deadline in February.
Just a few weeks ago, the latest intel said the Kings had offered Devin Carter, Dario Saric, and draft compensation for Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal, but the Warriors wanted more. Instead of creating an appealing package for Golden State, the Kings sat on their hands and didn't do anything. And now, Kuminga is returning to the Bay Area.
Because of the Dennis Schroder trade, the Kings would have needed to move DeMar DeRozan or Malik Monk in order to create space for Kuminga. And while that is possible, most analysts agree that it isn't likely. Simply put, the Kings don't have the desire to make the moves necessary to get Kuminga.
That's a real shame, and not just because Sacramento will miss out on adding the 22-year-old forward. This also shows that the front office has an unwillingness to shake things up and take risks. Instead, they want minimal adjustments while still hoping for a huge change in their fate.
Only small tweaks won't help this team get back in playoff shape. They will need to be adventurous and daring, making a plan and sticking to it. Low effort won't get them anywhere at this point, and their pursuit of Kuminga was the very definition of low effort. They tried, but not that hard, and the results were disappointing.
If they had acquired the Warriors forward, the Kings could have had an up-and-comer to build around, someone who could be a franchise player for years to come. There would have been plenty of upside to signing him, but they didn't do the necessary work to get him.
Sacramento could now look to sign someone else, but it seems increasingly likely that the offseason is finished. Fans who wanted big changes are disappointed, preparing for another middling season with only slight roster modifications.
The Kings could have found a way to please the Warriors and get Kuminga, but they obviously didn't want him that much. Perhaps they will change their mind at the trade deadline in February, but how much will Golden State demand at that point?