Kings Want Westbrook, Held up by Kuminga Situation
The Sacramento Kings’ offseason has reached a standstill as the front office continues to focus its attention on Jonathan Kuminga. The team has been aggressive in pursuing the Warriors forward, viewing him as a potential piece to elevate their young core. However, this pursuit has slowed down other possible moves, leaving Sacramento in a holding pattern. While the Kings also have interest in Russell Westbrook, their crowded backcourt makes such a move complicated. As a result, the franchise sits at a crossroads, waiting for clarity on both fronts.
The Kings have made their interest in Jonathan Kuminga no secret, with the belief that he could provide a versatile scoring and defensive boost. Despite their best efforts, the Warriors have resisted deals that don’t include significant draft capital. Sacramento has shown some willingness to part with players and picks, but only to a certain extent, keeping some of its top young assets off the table. This unwillingness to overpay has hindered progress in talks. Until a breakthrough happens, the Kings will likely continue to tread water in their offseason planning.
The stalemate comes down to value, as the Kings do not want to sacrifice their long-term stability for a single player. The Warriors, meanwhile, view Kuminga as an integral part of their future, unless they are overwhelmed by a competing offer. This tug-of-war has left Sacramento unable to pivot to other moves. The franchise clearly sees Kuminga as worth the wait, even if it means sacrificing valuable time in the offseason. The longer the talks drag on, the greater the risk the Kings face of missing other opportunities to upgrade their roster.
Russell Westbrook remains a name to watch, but Sacramento is hesitant to bring him in without first creating room in their backcourt. With guards like Malik Monk, Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, and Devin Carter already competing for minutes, adding Westbrook would complicate rotations. The Kings appear unwilling to move Monk, who remains a key piece of their offense. That leaves younger guards as the most likely trade candidates if they move forward with a Westbrook deal. Still, Sacramento seems determined to resolve the Kuminga pursuit before seriously considering the veteran guard. The Kings’ guard depth is both a strength and a problem. While it gives them options, it also creates a logjam that makes it challenging to balance roles and minutes. Westbrook could provide veteran leadership and energy, but without a corresponding trade, his fit feels forced. Sacramento has been cautious about breaking up its guard core, wary of losing valuable chemistry. Until they clear that hurdle, it will be tough to imagine the team committing to Westbrook.
Sacramento’s offseason remains at a standstill as they juggle their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga and their consideration of Russell Westbrook. Both moves present opportunities, but they come with complications that have delayed decisions. If the Kings land Kuminga, they could add an athletic and versatile forward to a promising core. If not, they may turn to Westbrook, provided they can free up space in their crowded backcourt. Until then, the Kings’ offseason will remain in limbo, waiting for the right piece to fall into place.
