Jonathan Kuminga Diagnosed With Bone Bruise In Left Knee
3:45 pm: Curry will be active today, tweets Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
3:21 pm: Fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga underwent an MRI on Friday which revealed he has a bone bruise in his left knee, the Warriors announced in a press release (Twitter link). Kuminga hyperextended his left knee in the second quarter of Thursday’s loss at Dallas and did not return.
Kuminga has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Minnesota. The team will monitor his progress and will determine a reevaluation date “in the coming days,” per the release.
The seventh overall pick of the 2021 draft, Kuminga demanded a trade out of Golden State on Jan. 15. The 23-year-old had been out of the rotation for over a month, but was recently reinserted into the lineup in the wake of Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending torn right ACL.
Kuminga played very well in his two appearances last week prior to the injury, recording 30 points (on 10-of-13 shooting), six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 30 total minutes. Overall, he’s averaging 12.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 2.5 APG on .454/.321/.742 shooting in 20 games (23.8 MPG).
In other Warriors injury news, Stephen Curry experienced right knee soreness on Saturday and is questionable for Sunday’s game, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter video link). The star guard will warm up before determining whether he can play tonight.
De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford will suit up on Sunday, but neither will play in Monday’s rematch with the Wolves, Kerr added.
Saturday’s Wolves-Warriors Game Postponed Until Sunday
Saturday’s game between the Timberwolves and Warriors in Minneapolis has been postponed and rescheduled for Sunday at 4:30 pm CT, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
The decision to postpone the game was made to “prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community,” per the league. The two teams will now have a back-to-back, as they’re also slated to play on Monday.
The news comes in the wake of a man being fatally shot by federal agents in the city on Saturday.
Warriors Notes: Curry, Butler, Kuminga, Wiggins, Green, More
The Warriors had been delighted by the play of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, which is a significant factor in why the franchise has taken the news of Butler’s season-ending torn ACL so hard, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
As Stein writes, Curry declined to speak to the media after Tuesday’s loss to Toronto because he was still processing the ramifications of the injury, and head coach Steve Kerr admitted the superstar guard was “crushed” by the news following Thursday’s defeat to the Mavs in Dallas.
“It’s obviously a tough situation. First and foremost, you think about [Butler] and his recovery and his spirits, just trying to be there for him as a friend and teammate,” Curry said after Thursday’s game. “But basketball-wise, we have to make the necessary adjustments to try to keep a semblance of our identity that we were forming with him as a part of that push.
“These last two games have been difficult in making that adjustment, but I think emotionally we have to try and move on as fast as possible to not let things spiral the wrong direction. … It’s no secret this is difficult for everybody, trying to accept the reality of what’s going on.”
Golden State’s front office has given Butler “strong assurances” that the team wants him back next season as soon as he has recovered from the major knee injury, according to Stein, who reiterates that trading the 36-year-old forward is not currently part of the Warriors’ plans.
Here are a few more notes and rumors on the Warriors:
- As for what moves the Warriors will look to make ahead of the February 5 deadline, trying to find a workable Jonathan Kuminga trade is a high priority, sources tell Stein, but the team also continues to signal it’s OK with keeping him for the rest of the season if necessary in an attempt to rebuild his market value ahead of the offseason. Before Kuminga injured his ankle and knee in Thursday’s game, Stein hears the Warriors planned to increase his minutes in the lead-up to the deadline. The 23-year-old forward will miss Saturday’s game in Minnesota due to left knee soreness, tweets ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
- According to Stein, the Warriors are interested in a reunion with Andrew Wiggins and will explore the possibility of sending Kuminga to Miami in exchange for the former No. 1 overall pick. It’s worth noting that Wiggins ($28.2MM) makes more money than Kuminga ($22.5MM) and the Warriors are right up against their second-apron hard cap, so they’d have to add more salary to the deal to make it a legal framework.
- The Warriors would be “negligent” not to make a pre-deadline deal to give Curry more help, contends Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
- On his podcast (YouTube link), forward/center Draymond Green offered a reserved take on GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.‘s eyebrow-raising comments about Kuminga’s trade demand, as Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area relays.
- While Curry is frustrated and disappointed by Butler’s injury, he says his belief in his ability to lead the team to victories hasn’t been shaken, per Nick Friedell of The Athletic. “As long as I’m out there, I’m always confident we can win,” Curry said. “It’s how I play. It’s how we want to play, and until proven otherwise, you have to carry that mentality.”
Amick’s Latest: Ellis, DeRozan, Sabonis, Towns
After being inactive for two games last weekend due to a minor knee issue, Kings guard Keon Ellis has missed two more contests this week as a DNP-CD. Still, that hasn’t diminished league-wide interest in Ellis on the trade market.
League and team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that there are approximately 10 teams in the mix for Ellis, with a deal expected to happen on or before the February 5 trade deadline. Sacramento is seeking a late first-round pick for the fourth-year guard, per Amick’s sources.
While the Kings have no shortage of trade candidates on their roster, Ellis is the one who has generated the most interest to this point, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic said on Thursday. Vecenie observes that the 26-year-old has a limited offensive skill set and doesn’t have the size necessary to stop bigger wings and forwards, but his energetic backcourt defense and solid outside shot provide real value.
Here are a few more items of interest from Amick’s latest NBA rumor round-up:
- The Warriors haven’t shown any interest in veteran forward DeMar DeRozan to this point, a Kings source tells Amick. DeRozan has been cited as a possible target for Golden State in the wake of Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending ACL tear, but it sounds like that’s just speculation right now and isn’t consistent with the options the Warriors are actually pursuing.
- After reporting in December that the Wizards, Suns, and Bulls have had interest in Domantas Sabonis in the past, Amick reiterated that point today. However, he acknowledges that the Raptors appear to be the most legitimate suitor for the Kings center at this point. Toronto has been connected to Sabonis by multiple reporters throughout the season, with Jake Fischer stating on Thursday that the Raptors maintain their interest in the big man.
- Like Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Amick hears that the Knicks haven’t engaged in any trade talks about big man Karl-Anthony Towns, despite one report to the contrary. The expectation, Amick writes, is that New York will focus on getting the most out of Towns in Mike Brown‘s system rather than looking to move him when his value has dipped a little.
Hornets’ Bridges Drawing Trade Interest From Multiple Teams
Hornets forward Miles Bridges has generated “significant” trade interest as the February 5 deadline approaches, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reports that the Bucks, Warriors, and Suns are among the teams eyeing the 27-year-old.
Bridges, who is earning $25MM this season, is under contract for $22.8MM in 2026/27, so the Hornets aren’t facing any urgency to make a decision on him right away. And they’re unlikely to move him unless a potential trade partner is willing to step up and meet their asking price, Amick writes.
“They want a first (round pick),” one league source told The Athletic. “Maybe two.”
The 12th overall pick in 2018, Bridges has spent his entire NBA career in Charlotte, starting 363 of his 468 regular season games for the team since entering the league. In 2025/26, he has averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 32.8 minutes per contest.
Bridges isn’t an elite defender or shooter — he has made a modest 44.3% of his attempts from the floor this season, including 33.2% of his three-point tries. Still, the 6’7″ forward has averaged over 20 points per game across his past three-and-a-half seasons, has good size and versatility for a wing, and is very durable, having never played fewer than 64 games in a season (he has appeared in 44 of 45 this year).
Of course, teams with interest in Bridges will also need to consider his off-court history. The former Michigan State standout lost a full season in 2022/23 after he was arrested on felony domestic violence charges just ahead of his restricted free agency. He later accepted a plea deal in that case and had three criminal counts related to separate domestic allegations dismissed. Bridges, who was suspended at the start of the ’23/24 season, hasn’t been in any legal trouble during the past two seasons.
The Hornets aren’t particularly enthusiastic about acquiring forward Kyle Kuzma, per Amick, which is one obstacle complicating a potential deal with the Bucks. There are other trade candidates on Milwaukee’s roster, but Kuzma and his $22.4MM salary would be the most logical outgoing piece.
A trade with Golden State would likely involve forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose $22.5MM salary is a near match for Bridges’ cap hit. It’s unclear whether Charlotte has any interest in the former No. 7 overall pick.
Phoenix’s interest is notable given the fact that Bridges shares an alma mater with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, though Ishbia’s team is reportedly reluctant to risk upsetting its positive chemistry by making a significant in-season move.
Kuminga Suffers Minor Injuries, Remains Adamant About Trade
Jonathan Kuminga‘s night was cut short by injuries on Thursday and he’s not interested in playing with the Warriors much longer, according to an NBA insider.
Kuminga twisted his left ankle and hyperextended his left knee during a second-quarter drive against the Mavericks, Anthony Slater of ESPN reports. The fifth-year forward didn’t play the remainder of the contest but neither injury is believed to be serious, Slater added.
While Marc Stein of The Stein Line tweets that Kuminga is expected to undergo an MRI, the former No. 7 overall pick told Slater that he’ll see how he feels on Friday morning before determining whether that’s necessary.
Kuminga, who has demanded a trade, played 21 minutes on Tuesday in the aftermath of Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending knee injury. Kuminga had 20 points and five rebounds against Toronto and was off to a strong start in Thursday’s contest vs. Dallas, supplying 10 points, two assists and two steals in nine minutes prior to his departure.
Coach Steve Kerr said prior to the contest that Kuminga would remain in the rotation, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, the 23-year-old hasn’t softened on his trade demand, Chris Haynes reported during an NBA on Prime segment (Twitter video link).
“Kuminga has no desire to remain a member of the Golden State Warriors. He is very much hoping that he will be dealt by the deadline,” Haynes said, adding, “His relationship with head coach Steve Kerr is fractured beyond repair. He’s felt that he hasn’t had any organizational support throughout this process, so he’s felt devalued with the organization.”
According to Haynes, some teams believe the Warriors might wait until the summer to trade the 23-year-old forward. Rival teams have also told him that Golden State refuses to take on additional salary for 2026/27 in an in-season Kuminga trade.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. stated this week that the market for Kuminga is cool. “In terms of demands, when there’s a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market. So we’ll see how that unfolds,” Dunleavy said.
Siegel’s Latest: MPJ, Warriors, Murphy, Giannis, Wolves, Magic
The Warriors had internal discussions about the possibility of pursuing Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. but received indications that the asking price would be higher than they’re comfortable with, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. The Lakers also aren’t expected to pursue Porter, Siegel writes, since they’re not looking to take on that sort of a big-money contract at this time (Porter is owed $40.8MM in 2026/27).
The Nets have conveyed to potential trade partners that they’re comfortable keeping Porter beyond this season, per Siegel, so if their asking price isn’t met, there’s a good chance he’ll remain in Brooklyn through the trade deadline.
While a Porter deal doesn’t seem likely, Siegel says the Warriors remain on the lookout for wings and have been linked to veterans like DeMar DeRozan of the Kings and old friend Andrew Wiggins, who was sent to the Heat in last season’s Jimmy Butler trade. It remains to be seen whether Miami will look to move Wiggins, but there’s still “a lot of mutual love” between the former No. 1 overall pick and the Warriors, who won a title together in 2022, Siegel notes.
Of course, the Warriors’ interest in Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III has been an open secret for months, and they’ve made him multiple calls about him this season, sources tell ClutchPoints.
Rivals believe New Orleans’ asking price for Murphy would be multiple first-round picks and a young player or two, says Siegel, but it’s unclear if the Pelicans would move him even if that price is met — they’ve reportedly told teams they don’t intend to. The Raptors are another team that has inquired on Murphy, Siegel reports.
Here are a few more highlights from Siegel’s latest league-wide rumor roundup:
- Although Giannis Antetokounmpo has said on the record that he has no intention of ever asking the Bucks to trade him, many people around the NBA still believe it’s only a matter of time until the two sides split, Siegel writes. There’s a sense it could happen in the offseason, which is one reason why several clubs want to hang onto their top trade assets. “It really seems like he’s made up his mind already,” an Eastern Conference executive told ClutchPoints. “But this is Giannis we are talking about, and he’s very careful with the words he picks when talking to the media because he doesn’t want to be painted as the villain in Milwaukee. And if we are being honest, he shouldn’t be, no matter if he requests a trade or not. He may not have directly requested a trade, but everyone knows what’s going on there. It’s basically just who will break the silence and actually say it is time to move on. Giannis doesn’t want to be that guy, and that’s understandable.”
- The Timberwolves are widely expected to address their backcourt in a deadline deal, with Magic guard Tyus Jones, Kings guard Malik Monk, and Hornets guard Collin Sexton among the players they’ve been connected to, per Siegel. Charlotte has conveyed that it would want at least one asset of value (ie. a draft pick or young player) in a Sexton deal, Siegel adds.
- There’s a belief that the Magic are open to moving Jones, forward Jonathan Isaac, and/or center Goga Bitadze, according to Siegel, who suggests Orlando could acquire second-round capital and 2026/27 cap relief in a deal involving Bitadze. The Magic are operating about $5.6MM above the luxury tax line, so they could look to duck the tax altogether by trading one or more of those players, whose salaries range from $7MM (for Jones) to $15MM (for Isaac).
Fischer’s Latest: AD, Butler, Giannis, LeBron, Raptors, Vucevic
The Mavericks are said to be open to continuing Anthony Davis trade talks while the big man recovers from his hand injury, and agent Rich Paul would reportedly like to see a deal happen before the February 5 deadline. However, the market for Davis seems to have cooled in the wake of his latest injury, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
The Hawks and Raptors have been the two teams mentioned most frequently this season as potential suitors for Davis, but both Eastern Conference clubs have been signaling that they’re no longer involved in significant trade discussions with the Mavericks, per Fischer. The Warriors also haven’t shown legitimate interest in pursuing the 32-year-old despite being linked to him earlier in the season, Fischer adds.
By all accounts, the Mavs won’t just send Davis to the highest bidder if they don’t get any offers to their liking, so unless Atlanta or Toronto circles back to the big man or another suitor emerges in the next week or two, it sounds like the odds of AD remaining in Dallas through the deadline are rising.
Here are a few more items of interest from Fischer:
- Fischer agrees with fellow Stein Line reporter Marc Stein, who wrote on Wednesday that the Warriors are unlikely to trade Jimmy Butler at the deadline following his season-ending ACL tear. Butler has been a positive presence in Golden State’s locker room and the Warriors believes he’ll help them next season, Fischer explains, so it doesn’t make sense to move him unless his maximum-salary contract would be necessary to land a superstar like Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo or Lakers forward LeBron James. Both of those players remain very much on Golden State’s radar, says Fischer, but aren’t considered probable trade candidates at this time and may not be in play until the offseason, at the earliest.
- The Raptors are signaling that they’re not pursuing Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, but they maintain interest in Kings center Domantas Sabonis, sources tell Fischer. Toronto’s apparent lack of interest in Morant was also reported this week by Michael Grange of Sportsnet.
- Multiple sources who spoke to Fischer believe Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is unlikely to be traded at the deadline. However, the veteran big man is expected to be a popular target on the free agent market during the offseason, Fischer writes, since he’s believed to be open to taking on a more “complementary” role in the right situation after having been a full-time starter for most of his career.
Pacific Notes: Kuminga, Clippers, Lakers, Leonard, Ayton
Jonathan Kuminga‘s best chance to move on from the Warriors by the trade deadline is to keep taking advantage of his newfound opportunity, Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle writes in a subscriber-only story. A season-ending ACL injury to Jimmy Butler has enabled Kuminga to rejoin the rotation, and he responded Tuesday with 20 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
League sources tell Gordon that Kuminga, who issued a trade demand last week, hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out. He hasn’t received consistent playing time during his five years with the organization, and he continues to believe he could be more productive with another team where he could be a regular starter at power forward.
Gordon confirms that the Kings, who pursued a sign-and-trade last summer when Kuminga was a restricted free agent, remain the “most interested suitor.” Gordon also lists the Lakers, Mavericks and Bulls as teams that could make serious bids over the next two weeks.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. confirmed to Gordon that the Warriors would consider giving up future first-round picks in a potential deal if they believe the return justifies it. He also said they’re willing to accept contracts that run past next season, as Moses Moody is currently their only player with guaranteed money for 2027/28. Gordon adds that the front office is approaching the trade market with the hope of landing an established star like Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo or a rising talent such as Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III.
“There’s still time left here,” Dunleavy responded when asked about Kuminga. “He’s on our roster. I know the trade has been requested, but nothing is imminent and things in this league can change in a heartbeat.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Clippers and Lakers, who will square off Thursday night at Inuit Dome, have moved in different directions since their last meeting on December 20, notes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register (subscription required). After a disastrous start, the Clippers put together a 13-2 stretch and have a slight lead in the race for the West’s final play-in spot. The Lakers have dropped five of their last eight and are heading into the second leg of an eight-game road trip that’s necessitated by the Grammy Awards. “I never been a part of a road trip that’s eight games, but it’s definitely very important to get the first one,” Luka Doncic said after Tuesday’s victory at Denver. “It’s never easy to play here. And the way we stayed together the whole game was impressive. And I think that builds us up.”
- Kawhi Leonard is listed as questionable on the Clippers‘ injury report, three days after being sent home from the team’s road trip for treatment on his left knee. Leonard is dealing with a contusion that he suffered in a January 10 game at Detroit.
- Deandre Ayton didn’t return to Tuesday’s contest after being poked in the eye before halftime (Twitter link from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin), but he’s not on the Lakers‘ injury report for Thursday.
Pacific Notes: Kuminga, Kerr, Sabonis, Lakers
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. raised eyebrows on Tuesday when he discussed Jonathan Kuminga‘s trade demand in frank terms, telling reporters, “When there’s a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market.”
Kuminga’s agent Aaron Turner responded to Dunleavy’s remarks on social media, tweeting the definition of the “law of demand” accompanied by the following caption: “Demand is sensitive to price or playing time, So if a seller sees demand is low, lower the price point or let him play and demand will go (up).”
While it remains to be seen whether the Warriors will “lower the price point” as they explore potential Kuminga trades, they moved forward with the other half of Turner’s suggestion — following Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending ACL tear, Kuminga was back in the rotation on Tuesday for the first time in over a month. The move was a success, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. In 21 minutes of action, the fifth-year forward scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and was a +3 in a game Golden State lost by 18 points.
“It was great,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He came in and had great energy, attacked the rim, made some shots. I thought JK was really good and it’s a great sign. With Jimmy out, obviously there’s a hole at that spot on our roster. So JK’s gonna factor in here again and really pleased with the way he stayed ready and stayed prepared and got his opportunity and played really well.”
Veteran forward Draymond Green viewed Kuminga’s performance as a reflection of the work the 23-year-old has put in and the positive attitude he has maintained as he awaits a potential trade.
“I think we’ve all been very vocal about how he’s handled himself,” Green said, per Friedell. “He’s been incredible. And that is proven by the game he had. If you’ve been a nuisance, if you will, that game doesn’t happen for you.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Within a larger story about the situation in Golden State, Logan Murdock of The Ringer cites sources who say multiple Warriors assistant coaches have been operating under the premise that Kerr won’t be coaching the team in 2026/27. Some of those assistants have been preparing for the possibility of finding new jobs, Murdock adds, noting that veteran assistant Chris DeMarco left earlier this season for a WNBA position. To be clear, that doesn’t necessarily mean Kerr (who doesn’t have a contract for next season) has made any decisions about his future — his assistants may just be preparing contingency plans in case he decides not to return.
- Kings center Domantas Sabonis has come off the bench and averaged just 19.3 minutes per night in his first three games back following a two-month absence due to a knee injury. According to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter links), head coach Doug Christie said on Tuesday that Sabonis’ limited role isn’t the result of an explicit minutes restriction from the medical staff and has been “decision-based.” Sabonis will sit out the second end of a back-to-back set on Wednesday vs. Toronto due to left knee injury management, Anderson adds.
- In Tuesday’s win over Denver, the Lakers looked more connected defensively than they have for much of the season, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, who wonders if the performance is a positive sign of things to come for Los Angeles. “One of the things that makes it complicated for us is, we have a lot of guys that are going to be free agents, and we have a lot of guys that have player options for next summer, so you might as well count them as free agents,” head coach JJ Redick said. “And the tendency for any athlete when things aren’t going well … you’re naturally going to turn inward. So that’s really what our emphasis points as coaches are, just being about the group and staying connected and keep continuing to fight and play for each other.”