Kuminga’s Injury Puts His Golden State Trade Future on Hold

Jonathan Kuminga was nearing a trade before Jimmy Butler’s injury brought him back. Now he’s injured too, leaving his Warriors trade on hold.

Kuminga’s relationship with the Golden State Warriors has already reached a crossroads. He already demanded a trade, and after being forced back into the rotation by Butler’s injury, he was sidelined himself. What looked like an unexpected opportunity was brief. With Kuminga now on the shelf, what can the Warriors do in a situation that seems to keep getting worse?

Kuminga’s Injury Puts His Golden State Trade Future on Hold

Kuminga’s Injury Changes Everything

In Thursday’s loss against the Dallas Mavericks, Kuminga was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee after hyperextending it in the second quarter.

The 23-year-old had just been pushed back into the starting lineup after 16 straight games away from the rotation, returning Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors with 20 points while shooting an impressive 70% from the field. The injury was a tough setback for a team that had only just begun to rely on him again.

What Kuminga’s Injury Means for His Trade Market

The Golden State front office doesn’t yet know the full extent of Kuminga’s injury, with the former Warriors champion set to be re-evaluated soon. While it’s not believed to be serious, any time lost could impact his market value and influence how rival teams view his short-term availability. Even a minor injury could deter teams away, especially when a player could miss crucial games late in the season.

Teams evaluating Kuminga must weigh his recent injury alongside his inconsistent performances with the Warriors this season. He’s averaging 12 points per game, down from two previous years, and his minutes have fluctuated significantly. He’s only started 13 games, all at the start of the season, and has struggled to hold a stable rotation spot, leaving him less “fresh” for teams considering trading for the 6-foot-7 forward. That uncertainty could lower the trade return Golden State receives, making it difficult for suitors to gauge his immediate impact.

With the trade deadline two weeks away, it’s difficult to predict which teams will be willing to take on even a minor injury risk. That hesitation is amplified for a player whose role and future are already uncertain.

How Butler’s Absence Forced Golden State’s Hand

Butler’s injury was what pulled Kuminga back into the Warriors’ rotation in the first place. Before that, a trade looked nearly guaranteed to happen. But now, according to Anthony Slater, the trade is less likely to happen now that Butler is hurt.

For now, history repeats itself for the Dubs. The seven-time champions are once again balancing immediate needs against long-term uncertainty. While the severity of Kuminga’s injury remains unclear, its timing could not be worse. It has complicated a situation that already felt unresolved to begin with.

Will Golden State trade Kuminga before the February 5 trade deadline, or does his situation force them to wait it out?