The Golden State Warriors are at a pivotal point in their franchise timeline. With their championship core aging and the roster weighed down by hefty contracts, their margin for error has never been thinner. The acquisition of Jimmy Butler was supposed to help steady the ship alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, but the team knows that without a strong supporting cast and a clear path for the future, they’re just delaying a full rebuild. At the center of their current dilemma sits Jonathan Kuminga, a player once viewed as the heir apparent to the Warriors dynasty but now a source of contractual friction and trade speculation.
Kuminga, a restricted free agent, has grown frustrated with his role in Golden State. Despite stretches of brilliance last season, he often found himself caught between competing agendas—developing into a featured player and fitting within Steve Kerr’s veteran-heavy system. He was reportedly offered a two-year, \$45 million contract by the Warriors, including a team option and non-guaranteed money in the second year. Kuminga’s camp declined the offer, citing a lack of long-term security and a desire for a more substantial role elsewhere. That position opened the door for other suitors to step in, most notably the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings.
Both teams have reportedly offered Kuminga a four-year deal worth around \$90 million, fully guaranteed. Phoenix, in particular, appears aggressive, envisioning Kuminga as a dynamic complement to their core of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant. However, with the Suns operating above the salary cap and deep into the luxury tax, they would need to complete a sign-and-trade to acquire Kuminga. The Warriors, understanding the leverage that restricted free agency grants them, have made it clear that they won’t facilitate any deal without receiving a significant return.
While early reports indicated that Phoenix had offered Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Nick Richards in various configurations, the Warriors were unimpressed. Veterans on mid-sized deals and second-round picks held little appeal for a team still clinging to contention but looking for flexibility. What the Warriors wanted was simple: a younger player with upside who could contribute now but also grow into something greater—someone on a rookie-scale contract who wouldn’t clog the books. And so, Golden State drew a line in the sand. If Phoenix wanted Kuminga, they would have to include Ryan Dunn.
Dunn, the Suns’ first-round pick just a year ago, had flashed elite defensive potential in limited minutes. Though not a finished product offensively, his instincts, motor, and length made him one of the most intriguing young wings in the Western Conference. On a team packed with high-usage veterans, Dunn’s ability to defend multiple positions and impact the game without needing the ball made him uniquely valuable. Phoenix viewed him as a future cornerstone of their wing rotation—an eventual replacement for aging defenders like O’Neale or Eric Gordon. Publicly, Suns officials insisted Dunn was off-limits. But privately, Golden State wouldn’t budge. No Dunn, no deal.
The Warriors’ front office saw Dunn as the type of piece they rarely had access to anymore: young, athletic, under team control, and not yet priced out by the market. With Kuminga potentially walking next summer as an unrestricted free agent if he signed his qualifying offer, the Warriors couldn’t afford to lose a core asset without a meaningful return. The inclusion of Dunn gave them the flexibility to remain competitive while planning for the future. In their eyes, swapping Kuminga for Dunn—plus filler contracts and a pick—wasn’t just palatable; it was necessary.
Talks grew tense. The Suns reportedly tried to offer multiple second-round picks instead, or push Nick Richards and Allen as the centerpiece. The Warriors passed. To them, it wasn’t about volume—it was about fit and upside. And Ryan Dunn fit their blueprint. He was versatile, cheap, and not yet tied into long-term expectations. In a system that once developed the likes of Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala into winning-role players, the Warriors believed they could mold Dunn into a legitimate contributor within a season or two. Meanwhile, they were wary of Allen’s long-term price tag and defensive limitations.
Phoenix pushed back, reluctant to part with a player they considered a future starter. They viewed Kuminga as an explosive scorer but worried about his fit in their existing structure. If they gave up Dunn and Kuminga didn’t pan out, they’d have compromised both the present and the future. Still, they remained committed to acquiring Kuminga and reportedly reopened discussions by adding lightly protected first-round draft picks to the mix. The Warriors acknowledged the gesture but maintained their position: the deal only happens if Dunn is involved.
From Kuminga’s perspective, the drawn-out process was exhausting. He had made it clear he wanted a larger role and more consistent minutes. Phoenix offered that. Sacramento offered that. Golden State had failed to guarantee it. Now, stalled negotiations were holding up his future. Some in his camp floated the idea of signing the \$7.9 million qualifying offer and entering unrestricted free agency in 2026, but the risk was high. An injury or a down season could cost him tens of millions in guaranteed money. Others suggested threatening to sign an offer sheet elsewhere to force the Warriors’ hand, but Golden State had made clear they’d match any offer—only to trade him on their terms later.
The standoff started to resemble a game of chicken. The Suns, with their full roster and tax concerns, had limited time and leverage. Golden State, still unsure if Kuminga was part of their long-term vision, was unwilling to accept an unbalanced return. The Kings, meanwhile, lingered on the periphery of the talks but hadn’t offered the player types Golden State wanted. They refused to part with Keegan Murray or even second-year guard Devin Carter. They, too, balked at giving up meaningful youth.
Inside the Warriors’ front office, some executives pushed for compromise. A deal with Phoenix that brought back Allen and O’Neale, plus a pick, could add veteran depth and shooting around Curry and Butler. Others argued that trading Kuminga for role players would haunt them later. It wasn’t just about the present—it was about keeping assets that could outlast their aging core. That thinking kept Dunn’s name at the top of the Warriors’ list.
The Suns, meanwhile, were juggling several problems. Their roster was locked at 15. They had too many wings and too little flexibility. Shedding Allen’s contract would help long-term, but only if they didn’t lose a core piece in return. Ryan Dunn was viewed internally as a building block, someone who could defend Luka Doncic or Anthony Edwards in a playoff series. Trading him away for a player still trying to find consistency felt premature.
Still, pressure mounted from both sides. Curry wanted clarity. Kuminga wanted resolution. Fans and media questioned why no deal had been struck. Trade season was ending, and every passing day brought more urgency. It became clear: either Phoenix would relent and include Dunn, or the deal would die.
As the deadline approached, Phoenix reconsidered. They weighed the cost of losing out on Kuminga against the long-term value of Dunn. Would it be worth sacrificing a potential starter for a player who might elevate them into true contention? If Kuminga fit, the deal would be a steal. If not, they would be left with regrets. The final hours of negotiation were frantic, filled with counteroffers and face-saving proposals. The Warriors never moved off their demand. Dunn had to be included. In the end, Phoenix blinked.
The deal was finalized: Kuminga to Phoenix in a sign-and-trade; Ryan Dunn, Grayson Allen, and a future top-10 protected first-round pick to Golden State. Both sides spun it as a win. The Warriors framed it as a disciplined bet on value and upside. The Suns sold it as a necessary risk in pursuit of a title. Kuminga got his payday and a new opportunity. Dunn, stunned but professional, joined a team that believed in his growth.
Only time would reveal the wisdom of the move. If Kuminga became the two-way star some predicted, Phoenix might have pulled off the steal of the decade. If Dunn emerged as a premier perimeter defender and Allen provided reliable depth, Golden State could point to the trade as the moment they reloaded instead of rebuilding. In the high-stakes chessboard of the NBA, every piece matters. And for the Warriors, Ryan Dunn wasn’t a throw-in. He was the key to the entire deal.
