The Phoenix Suns were extremely active this offseason, with no fewer than 11 new faces through the door as the franchise also waved goodbye to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. One signing they failed to get over the line however was that of Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors. Looking at what they supposedly were willing to give up to get him, it is not hard to see why.
The best package on the table rumored to be Nick Richards, Grayson Allen and four second round picks. The Warriors might have wanted the Kuminga situation resolved quickly - and that has most certainly not happened - but that is nowhere near enough to get back for a 22-year-old for a ton of upside.
Addition of Al Horford gives Suns last chance to steal Kuminga.
The Warriors finally announced the signing of center Al Horford over the weekend, in a deal that had been months in the making. The delay in getting it done? The Kuminga situation, which took another turn when it was revealed the player would not be attending their media day. The strongest sign yet that the organization would move on from him if they could.
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) September 28, 2025
Which is why the Suns should go back with a final - take it or leave it offer - to test the Warriors' resolve. It would likely mean adding in one of Ryan Dunn or Oso Ighodaro, but it is clear Golden State has reached the point where they just want to move on from this whole mess. They don't want to pay him what Kuminga feels he deserves, whereas Suns' owner Mat Ishbia most certainly will.
From a basketball perspective the addition of Horford also means less minutes for Kuminga as well, as the Warriors go all in on veterans around Stephen Curry to try and win another ring. The whole two timelines plan they tried to enact a few years back has not worked, but the Suns have time on their side to try and get the best out of Kuminga.
About the only reason not to do this from their own perspective is because of how settled their own group already looks after media day and with training camp having started. Everybody is on the same page and there are no off the court dramatics to have to worry about. Just a rebuilding roster trying to figure it out together.
That is perhaps reason enough to stay out of the Kuminga business - but when you're trying to get Devin Booker back to the mountain top as quickly as possible - these are the kind of trades you have to make. The prospect of adding Jonathan Kuminga was dead in the water as recently as last week, but there might be one last run at making it happen yet.