The Golden State Warriors are playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. In a stunning revelation, the Warriors have turned down trade offers for Jonathan Kuminga, including one involving six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan and another featuring promising rookie Devin Carter. The message is clear: Golden State is holding out for a blockbuster deal that matches Kuminga’s soaring potential. This isn’t just a trade stance—it’s a statement about the franchise’s future.
The Warriors know exactly what they want for Kuminga: a proven young talent, a first-round draft pick, and zero bad contracts clogging their books. Anything less? No deal. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Golden State has rebuffed offers from multiple teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns, who’ve all come knocking this offseason. One rumored package from Sacramento included Devin Carter, Dario Šarić, and two second-round picks. Another floated DeRozan as the centerpiece. Neither moved the needle.
The Warriors are NOT interested in DeMar DeRozan in a trade for Jonathan Kuminga, per @sam_amick
(Via @evanAgiddings) pic.twitter.com/fqT4N1Cldq
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 30, 2025
Why? Because the Warriors aren’t just trading a player—they’re shaping their next era. Kuminga, a 22-year-old athletic marvel with star potential, is a cornerstone they won’t part with lightly. Golden State’s front office is betting big on his upside, and they’re not budging until the offer is undeniable.
DeMar DeRozan is a scoring machine, averaging 20+ points per game for 12 consecutive seasons. His midrange mastery and clutch scoring make him a tantalizing addition for any team needing offensive firepower. So why did the Warriors say no?
At 35, DeRozan’s fit is questionable. His high-usage, isolation-heavy style clashes with Golden State’s motion offense. His career 3-point shooting—never above 36%—would exacerbate the Warriors’ spacing issues, especially alongside Draymond Green and potential targets like Jimmy Butler. Add in DeRozan’s $50 million contract over the next two years, and the deal screams short-term gain for long-term pain.
The Warriors aren’t chasing a quick fix. Trading Kuminga for a veteran like DeRozan would lock them into an expensive, aging roster with diminishing flexibility. Instead, Golden State is building a bridge to a younger, more dynamic future—Kuminga included.
Sacramento’s other offer centered on Devin Carter, a 2024 lottery pick with defensive chops and comparisons to Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. On paper, Carter seems like a Warriors-type player: gritty, versatile, and high-upside. But an injury sidelined his rookie season, and his uneven Summer League showings raised questions about his readiness.
For Golden State, Carter represents potential, not certainty. The Warriors aren’t looking for a project—they want a young player who’s already proven their worth, paired with a first-round pick to sweeten the deal. Carter, Šarić, and second-rounders don’t cut it when you’re trading a talent like Kuminga, who’s shown flashes of All-Star brilliance. Still, Carter might be the best offer on the table, forcing the Warriors to weigh their ideal package against market realities.
The trade drama isn’t the only storyline. Kuminga reportedly turned down a Warriors extension offer averaging $20 million annually, holding out for a deal closer to $30 million. So far, no team—including the Kings—has met his price. The market for restricted free agents has cooled, with salary-matching rules and Kuminga’s base-year status complicating deals. Sacramento, for instance, is juggling extensions for Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis, making them hesitant to overpay.
Other names like Josh Giddey or Cam Thomas have surfaced as potential trade targets, but nothing has materialized. The Warriors’ patience suggests confidence that Kuminga’s value will only climb as he continues to develop.
Golden State’s stance is a masterclass in discipline. By rejecting DeRozan and Carter, they’re betting that Kuminga’s growth—and the right trade offer—will outshine any short-term temptation. There’s a real chance Kuminga starts and finishes the season in a Warriors uniform, especially if no team meets their steep demands. Every day that passes shifts leverage toward Golden State, as suitors face pressure to up their bids.
The Warriors are playing the long game, prioritizing youth, flexibility, and upside over win-now moves. Whether this gamble pays off depends on who blinks first—rival teams desperate for Kuminga’s potential or Golden State itself. One thing’s certain: Kuminga’s value just skyrocketed, and the Warriors are holding all the cards.