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Warriors Must Focus on Jonathan Kuminga Contract Over Trade amid Latest NBA Rumors

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The Golden State Warriors need to find a resolution to their sticky situation with restricted free agent.

They should stop searching for it in the NBA trade market. For now, at least.

Look, maybe this saga—which has both paused Kuminga’s payday and stopped the Warriors from filling their roster in free agency—has caused irreparable damage to what has long felt like a fractured relationship. That’s obviously not ideal, but it’s also not a reason for Golden State to accept a bad trade just to get this over with.

And it seems like the Warriors are weighing whether to do exactly that.

Per The Athletic’s Sam Amick, sign-and-trade talks between Golden State and the Sacramento Kings “were renewed earlier this week.” While Amick noted that “no significant progress was made in the talks,” he also opined that “it’s quite notable” the Kings are still considering this.

Sacramento has no obvious incentive to abandon the pursuit, though. The Kings are in a tough spot where they aren’t guaranteed a playoff (or play-in) spot in the fully loaded Western Conference but also don’t have many young, long-term building blocks. They could envision plenty of value potential in Kuminga, a 22-year-old who was drafted seventh overall in 2021 and has since shown off explosive athleticism and a knack for getting buckets.

Moreover, he’s done all of this while being shuffled all around—and sometimes out of—the Warriors’ rotation. Right or wrong, coach Steve Kerr has decided Kuminga isn’t a great system fit, particularly since they added Jimmy Butler at the last trade deadline. It’s possible Kuminga is just one scenery change away from a major breakthrough.

One can understand, then, why the Kings might want to get something done. It’s the Warriors, though, who can’t afford for things to end this way.

Sacramento, per Amick, has “offered veteran guard Malik Monk and a lottery-protected, 2030 first-round pick,” which probably explains why these renewed trade talks didn’t get any farther than the previous round of discussions. That’s just not an interesting (let alone valuable) package for the Warriors.

For one, that’s a pretty heavy protection for a pick that wouldn’t convey for another five years at the absolute earliest. Secondly, Golden State has maintained financial flexibility for 2027 (when Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green can all enter free agency), and Monk’s contract, which has a $21.6 million player option for 2027-28, would eat into that.

Finally, Monk might be just as poor of a system fit as Kuminga. Monk is at least a better shooter (albeit a very streaky one), but he’s prone to the same bouts of tunnel vision and may not make the quick-read passes and off-ball movements needed to thrive as a support piece in this offense.

In other words, Golden State would be saddled with a contract and a player it probably doesn’t want, and its only compensation would be a heavily-protected first-round pick that might convey in a half-decade. That’s just bad business, regardless how the Warriors really feel about Kuminga.

If that’s the only external option left, it’s time for them to think longer and harder about an internal fix to this issue. Namely, they need to finally figure out a multi-year contract that makes sense for them and him, because, in the business of basketball terms, the only profit potential here is keeping Kuminga around in hopes that more favorable options eventually emerge.

It’s probably just kicking the trade-Kuminga can down the road, and that’s fine. Waiting should eventually open up more suitors, more options and, hopefully, more favorable returns for the Warriors. Both young teams and those with current scoring deficiencies could conceivably talk themselves into acquiring the bouncy swingman.

And who knows, maybe there’s still a way for Golden State to mend fences and for Kuminga to factor into the long-term plans there yet. It certainly isn’t the likeliest scenario, but if he’s making more money and seeing more consistent minutes, maybe it becomes easier for him to buy into the support role Kerr wants him to play.

The point is, the Dubs can’t see these sign-and-trade talks with the Kings as their only road out of this. As much as they’d love to see the end of this drawn-out saga, the only way it works for them is if they find a solution that benefits them. These conversations with Sacramento are never going to do that.

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Morikawa urges ‘absolute chaos†from US fans but Rose backs Europe to focus | Ryder Cup 2025

Justin Rose has vowed Europe’s Ryder Cup stars will not be distracted by the melee around Donald Trump’s visit to Bethpage on Friday, while spectators have been warned to brace themselves for security chaos as a result of the US president’s presence. Europe face broader challenges after the USA team member Collin Morikawa called for home fans to cause “absolute chaos†for the visitors. Morikawa believes the early part of Ryder Cup week has proved “tameâ€.

Trump’s arrival on the first day of the 45th Ryder Cup will trigger airport-style checks for fans and a ban on several items including folding chairs, umbrellas and vapes. The Bethpage gates will open at the unprecedented time of 5am, more than two hours before play gets under way, in an attempt to alleviate an inevitably tricky situation. Security bubbles and additional screening will be in place around certain areas where Trump could be present.

The focus of Rose and his European teammates is on retaining the trophy won in Rome two years ago. The Englishman, who is taking part in his seventh Ryder Cup, revealed he does not expect the US president to appear on the 1st tee and promised Europe will not lose their focus from the task in hand.

“Obviously he is going to bring certainly a lot of attention and patriotism to the event,†said Rose of Trump. “I don’t think he’s going to necessarily be on the tee box with us or roaming the course. So from that point of view, I think there will just be a lot of noise around it but I’m not sure there will be the continued distraction of it. I could be wrong, just based upon what I’ve heard, how they’re going to handle his movements around the property.

“Listen, it’s great for golf that he’s engaged in the game and obviously he brings a lot of eyeballs with him. Fan-wise, I’m sure Friday afternoon will be certainly very intense and entertaining.â€

Rose’s comments suggest Trump will take the advice of the PGA of America and appear for the second rather than opening session on Friday. The Ryder Cup organisers had asked the White House to ensure the president did not come in the morning, in an attempt to alleviate security pressures at this 1400-acre site. About 50,000 spectators are expected at Bethpage on each tournament day.

Security around Trump has been intensified by the recent killing of Charlie Kirk. On Wednesday morning, Ryder Cup organisers announced a string of measures never previously encountered at the biennial event. “Ticketed attendees are strongly urged to arrive as early as possible and should budget extra time as they plan their day,†said a PGA of America statement.

“In addition to security screening at the entrance, spectators will be subjected to TSA [Transportation Security Administration]-style screening points around the clubhouse, adjacent grandstand and surrounding areas. If spectators leave these secure areas, they will need to be screened again prior to reentering that area.

“Gates will open for ticket holders at 5am. Guests should make every effort to restrict personal items to a minimum.

“Guests should expect temporary delays moving around publicly accessible areas inside and outside of the Bethpage Black golf course. These areas may briefly become restricted or frozen spaces before, during or after the event.â€

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Fans were busy collecting autographs during a practice round for the golfers at Bethpage. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Members of the public are prohibited from bringing laptops, tablets or range finders into Bethpage on Friday. Items banned in the vicinity of the 1st hole are portable folding chairs, large vapes, torch-style lighters, metal or hard plastic beverage containers and large umbrellas.

Morikawa did his bit to crank up pressure on Europe. “I think it’s kind of tame so far,†said the two-time major winner. “I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I’m all for it. I think it feeds into who we are as the American team. We want it. We want to use that to our advantage. I think we really have to tap into that.

“I hope they come strong. Watching all these kids, I know they want autographs, but come Friday I hope they go crazy.â€

A further layer of Ryder Cup complication has been added by a forecast of thunder storms in this part of Long Island. It is possible neither the USA nor European teams will be able to play practice holes on the eve of competition.

Hockey

Plan for NHL regulars comes into focus as Panthers camp, preseason slate continues

It was a busy day on Tuesday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale as training camp continues for the Florida Panthers.

On Wednesday, the Panthers will head up to Raleigh for a preseason matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.

Making the trip to North Carolina for the Cats will be group that will not feature any of the teamâ€s returning NHL regulars, a similar situation as to over the weekend when Florida played a preseason doubleheader in Nashville against the Predators on Sunday.

The players who will participate on Wednesday in Raleigh were on the ice for a formal camp practice Tuesday afternoon.

For many, itâ€s all about trying to make a good impression and prepare yourself for the season to come, but at the end of the day, as long as the effort is there, the coaching staff understands that itâ€s a long road to the NHL.

“That’s really what I’m looking for,†said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “If any of these young guys that came out and, let’s say, I thought they were all fine, you know, real good idea of, like, either why we drafted them or why we brought them to camp. But if they’re young, and they had a tough camp, I won’t think about them again. I won’t assess them, because theyâ€ve got years before (theyâ€re expected at the NHL level). So if a guy had a tough camp, that doesn’t mean his career is over at all. He’s just got to go back to play junior, or if itâ€s his first year pro, or whatever that is, get another year, and then you come in. So you really do go through the stages here, especially because we haven’t drafted a high, first round pick that comes in has a legitimate chance to make our team. We don’t have those players. All our first-round picks are playing on our team.â€

Roster-wise, it will be a similar situation when Floridaâ€s next road preseason game arrives, which will be next Tuesday when Florida faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in Orlando.

For that game, expect the Panthers to bring another mostly-young group to the neutral site showdown with Tampa.

However, the night before, when Florida hosts Carolina on Monday night in Sunrise, weâ€ll get our first look at some of the NHLers expected to be on the Opening Night roster.

Itâ€s all part of the process and Maurice and his staff evaluate everyone, new and returning, to see exactly where everyone shapes up as they prepare to mold a new roster for the upcoming season.

“All of the new guys, I’m just trying to learn their game, trying to find out what I think they do for a living,†said Maurice. “What are they good at? That’s a really important question to ask. What’s that guy good at? How do I fit him in? The returning players that we’ve had year over year, I’m just trying to anecdotally measure how much better they are. Do I think they’re fitter? Are they stronger? Are they grasping what we’ve done? We’re looking for progression and trying to measure that. And then there are a band of players that you’re looking at saying, okay, that guy’s a potential call-up, how would I play him? First of all, can I make him better? Can I help him get better? Early on, I just want them to learn our game, try to play it, and see if you can, and then we’ll shape you a little bit. You’ve got to be more physical. You can be less physical. You’re running around. We need to get the little details, where you take each individual player and try to shape them into our team.â€

Before Tuesdayâ€s formal workout in Fort Lauderdale, a large group of the Opening Night Panthers held a skate and scrimmage.

On the ice were Brad Marchand, Evan Rodrigues, Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen, Dmitry Kulikov, Sasha Barkov, Niko Mikkola, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Uvis Balinskis, Mackie Samoskevich, Carter Verhaeghe, A.J. Greer, Gus Forsling, Jesper Boqvist and Jeff Petry.

They are all expected to join the regular camp practices later this week ahead of Monday’s game against Carolina.

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Photo caption: Sep 19, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice speaks to center Gracyn Sawchyn (59), forward Tyler Motte (14) and forward Noah Gregor (18) during training camp at Baptist Health IcePlex. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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