Warriors’ “Super Trade” Plan Revealed: ESPN Expert Reveals Massive Deal That Will Shake Up the NBA!
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Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
It’s been a difficult summer for the Golden State Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga‘s contract saga has limited the franchise’s ability to add new faces ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Sooner or later, the Warriors will begin rounding out their roster. Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are both expected to sign deals with the franchise. However, ESPN’s Anthony Slater believes the Warriors’ slow summer makes them the biggest candidates to take a swing at the February 2026 trade deadline.
Slater ranked Golden State first on his list of teams that could make a “big move” closer to the deadline.
“The Warriors lead this list because they’ve essentially spent the offseason signaling a desire for deadline movement,” Slater wrote. “Their two-year, $45 million contract offer to restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga was designed to get him on a salary number they can flip come January.”
Golden State also made a big swing at the February 6, 2025, trade deadline. They acquired Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, thus creating a new big three of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Butler. Still, the Warriors have plenty of tradeable assets and could once again go big-name shopping if the right deal presented itself.
Warriors Don’t Want to Trade Buddy Hield
One player who appears to be safe in his current situation with the Warriors is Buddy Hield. The veteran sharpshooter has been floated as a salary-matching tool in any potential Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade.
Yet, according to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors have no interest in parting with Hield.
“Golden State has refused this summer to even entertain sign-and-trade scenarios that would require it to surrender either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody because of the limited options currently on the roster in terms of proven shooters,” Fischer reported.
Hield enjoyed a strong debut season in the Bay Area. He played in all 82 games, averaging 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds on 41.7% shooting from the field and 37% from deep.
Kuminga Doesn’t Want to Return to Warriors
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Kuminga’s reluctance to sign a new deal with the Warriors is reportedly due to his desire to leave the franchise.
“The only reason Kuminga hasn’t accepted this contract is because he truly doesn’t want to return to the Warriors,” Siegel reported. “To change his mind … an understanding of what Kuminga wants will need to be at the forefront.”
Kuminga has struggled to establish himself as a key part of Steve Kerr’s rotation. His role has consistently been chopped and changed, and his overall development has likely been stunted as a result. Kuminga may view a move away from the Warriors as what’s best for his career.
Nevertheless, the Warriors still have some control over the situation. Kuminga is a restricted free agent. If Mike Dunleavy Jr. doesn’t want to entertain a sign-and-trade, Kuminga’s options are limited. At which point, the best thing he can do is sign his qualifying offer. That way, he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Kuminga’s contract stalemate has dragged on all summer. Sooner or later, both sides must reach a resolution. Still, no matter what happens, a trade deadline move looks increasingly likely. Who will emerge as the Warriors’ target is anybody’s guess, though.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns for Heavy. He has also written for CelticsBlog, USA Today, Yardbarker and FanSided. Adam has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor