The Kings and Warriors haven’t budged regarding a potential sign-and-trade deal that would send Golden State forward Jonathan Kuminga to Sacramento — a deal would’ve been done by now.
And the Kings appear to be standing even taller as of Wednesday.
Sacramento is telling Golden State that forward Keegan Murray and guard Keon Ellis, both fan favorites in California’s capital city, are off limits in trade discussions, the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson reported Wednesday, citing a league source.
“The Sacramento Kings have not given up in their pursuit of a sign-and-trade deal for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga,” Anderson prefaced.
“The Warriors would probably be quick to pull the trigger on a deal involving Keegan Murray or Keon Ellis. However, a source with knowledge of trade conversations told The Sacramento Bee that Murray and Ellis have not been discussed, and both are considered off limits in talks for Kuminga.”
It makes sense for the Kings to be cautious.
Kuminga will bring an element of surprise to whatever team he ends up with during the 2025-26 NBA season. At 22, Kuminga’s potential is undoubtedly high, and he enters his fifth campaign having averaged 15.3 points on 45.4-percent shooting with 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 47 regular-season games in 2024-25.
But his career 33.2-percent clip on 3-point shots is a major concern to any team prioritizing floor spacing.
“Kuminga wants a fresh start with a new team, and the Warriors have given him reason to question their commitment to him,” Anderson wrote. “He likes the opportunity the Kings have presented, but the Warriors seem unwilling to accept a package featuring Devin Carter, Dario Saric and draft compensation, which could be a protected first-round pick or multiple second-round picks.”
Sacramento knows what it has with Murray and Ellis; the former is a promising, well-rounded forward himself, and the latter arguably the anchor of the Kings’ defense.
As Anderson wrote, first-year general manager Scott Perry and the Kings aren’t giving up on attempting to bring Kuminga north. It is, though, unknown which franchise benefits from the saga dragging out.
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