Phoenix Suns Eye Jonathan Kuminga with Bold $90M Offer, But Golden State Isn’t Budging
In a dramatic offseason development, the Phoenix Suns are actively pursuing promising young forward Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors, with hopes of reshaping their roster for the upcoming 2025–26 NBA season. The Suns have reportedly extended an aggressive four-year, $90 million offer to Kuminga, a restricted free agent. However, despite the massive financial commitment and their clear interest in building around the 22-year-old, there’s a significant roadblock: the Warriors aren’t buying into what Phoenix is offering in return.
While the Suns have positioned themselves financially and strategically to make a serious push for Kuminga, their trade package has failed to meet the expectations of the Warriors’ front office. As a result, negotiations between the two teams have stalled, and Kuminga is now caught in a difficult position—either wait for Golden State’s plans to shift, or attempt to engineer an exit himself.
A Complicated Trade Landscape
The situation between the two franchises is complex. Phoenix recently cleared significant cap space by parting ways with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, freeing up both the salary cap and playing time for new talent. The goal was to usher in a new era built around younger, more dynamic athletes—Kuminga being chief among them.
But even with the cap room and an enticing $90 million deal on the table, the Suns are running into a wall. The Golden State Warriors, despite a shaky 2024–25 campaign that ended in a second-round playoff exit at the hands of the rising Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards, are holding firm. They see value in Kuminga, even though his playing time diminished after the midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler, which complicated his role and arguably stunted his development.
Despite tensions and a clear reduction in Kuminga’s responsibilities on the court, Golden State has little interest in giving him up—especially for what Phoenix is currently offering. Reports from multiple insiders suggest that the Warriors’ leadership is unimpressed by the Suns’ proposed return, making any meaningful progress in trade discussions virtually impossible.
Behind Golden State’s Reluctance
The Warriors’ reluctance to move Kuminga isn’t just about maintaining depth or sticking to a rigid roster plan. It also reflects a broader philosophy shift within the franchise. Following their elimination from playoff contention, many expected Golden State to begin reshaping its future around younger players like Kuminga. Instead, they chose to keep the roster largely intact, doubling down on veterans and hoping internal improvements and better chemistry would yield stronger results in the new season.
Golden State still values Kuminga’s upside—his athleticism, versatility, and ability to guard multiple positions. Though he declined their qualifying offer, thereby entering restricted free agency, the Warriors still retain matching rights. That means they can counter any offer sheet Kuminga signs with another team, including Phoenix. Unless Kuminga forces a move or Golden State is overwhelmed with an unrefusable offer, the ball remains firmly in their court.
Phoenix’s Gamble: Is Kuminga Worth $90 Million?
From Phoenix’s perspective, going after Kuminga is a strategic move rooted in necessity and vision. The departures of Durant and Beal left the team in need of fresh blood—someone younger, with upside, and capable of growing into a larger role. Kuminga fits that mold. Though he has not yet blossomed into a consistent star, his flashes of brilliance, especially on the defensive end, have turned heads around the league.
Committing $90 million over four years to a player who has yet to make an All-Star appearance may seem risky, but the Suns clearly believe in Kuminga’s ceiling. Their willingness to pursue him so aggressively speaks to both their confidence in his long-term value and their urgency to remain competitive in a loaded Western Conference.
However, this gamble only works if Golden State agrees to play ball—and so far, they’re not.
Kuminga’s Crossroads
For Kuminga himself, the situation is frustrating. After seeing his minutes slashed following the arrival of Jimmy Butler, the writing seemed to be on the wall that his time in the Bay Area might be coming to a close. Yet despite rejecting the qualifying offer and entertaining a massive deal from Phoenix, his fate remains out of his hands due to the Warriors’ restricted free agent rights.
If the impasse continues, Kuminga could be forced to spend another year navigating limited minutes and an unclear role in Golden State’s rotation—a potentially damaging outcome for a player at such a crucial stage of development. The alternative? Push harder for a trade, even if it risks damaging relationships within the organization.
How the NBA Landscape Could Shift
Kuminga’s situation is emblematic of a broader dynamic playing out across the NBA. Teams like Phoenix are betting on youth and upside as they attempt to pivot from short-term contention strategies to longer-term growth. Meanwhile, traditional powers like Golden State are facing a fork in the road—cling to what’s left of their dynasty, or hand over the reins to the next generation.
The Suns’ interest in Kuminga also signals a new direction under their current front office, one that prioritizes athleticism, defense, and long-term value over short-lived star pairings. With Durant and Beal gone, Phoenix is reshaping its core, and Kuminga could be a foundational piece—if the Warriors ever relent.
As of now, though, Phoenix’s ambitions remain on hold, their $90 million offer sitting on the table with no indication it will be accepted.
Where Things Stand
As the offseason progresses, eyes will remain fixed on Kuminga and his future. Will Golden State finally engage in serious talks with Phoenix—or any other interested suitor? Will Kuminga escalate his desire to move, perhaps even requesting a trade publicly? And will Phoenix up the ante in its trade proposal to force Golden State’s hand?
Whatever the outcome, the tug-of-war over Jonathan Kuminga is a major subplot of this NBA offseason—a test of loyalty, ambition, and value in a league where all three are constantly evolving.
One thing is clear: Phoenix has made its move. Now, the rest depends on the Warriors—and Kuminga’s next step.
