The February 5 trade deadline is barely days away. This was the perfect opportunity for the Golden State Warriors to trade Jonathan Kuminga. However, Jimmy Butler‘s season-ending ACL injury seems to have given the 23-year-old a lifeline that was rather unexpected. Kuminga’s earlier trade demand seemed to seal his fate. However, a depleted forward rotation may now force him to stay in the Bay Area. There’s a domino effect at play here, though.

Anthony Slater of ESPN reported that multiple team sources have described Kuminga‘s trade as “less likely” in recent days.

“Prior to that injury, Kuminga was a $22.5 million wing rotting on the bench, having not seen the floor for 16 straight games,” Slater explained. “Without Butler, he’s back in the mix, scoring 30 points in 30 bench minutes before the injury. There’s internal conversation that he’d get another crack at minutes post-deadline, if he’s still around. That has yet to be determined, though.”

Head coach Steve Kerr had largely been cryptic about the Kuminga case before last week. That was exactly why everything had gotten confusing. But right after Butler was done for the season, he appeared to have no choice but to play the 23-year-old star.

Kerr previously described playing him alongside Butler as “not a great combination,” while also once saying that the combination of Kuminga, Butler, and Draymond Green “doesn’t fit real well.” But with one veteran now out of the way, does the coach really have an option of overlooking Kuminga anymore?

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Kuminga sustained a left knee hyperextension against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. While attacking the rim, the forward also sustained light bone bruising and swelling. As a result, the Warriors pulled him off the road trip and sent him to San Francisco for care. However, the front office appears to believe he can return before the trade deadline and reclaim rotation time, keeping every option alive.

Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings continue to circle Kuminga as a trade prospect. They have been long-time admirers, but the talks have apparently gone cold. Sources say the Warriors refuse to make a long-term commitment, steering clear of Malik Monk or DeMar DeRozan, and asking for an expiring contract.

Now, the Warriors need a move that frees a roster spot and trims the salary cap, all to likely elevate Pat Spencer, a fan-favorite, from a two-way deal to a standard contract. However, there is a fine possibility that Spencer’s expiring deal could send him away from the Dubs squad, despite some decent performances on the court.

Why Jonathan Kuminga’s almost-secured future puts Pat Spencer at risk

Pat Spencer is near his two-way contract limit, having been active in 45 of 47 games by Monday. Two-way players are capped at 50 games in a season, and only four games remain before February 5. Therefore, the calendar helps. Keep him active through the Phoenix Suns matchup, and his two-way path shuts down for the season. So, how do they retain him any further?

A standard deal means a prorated minimum. Spencer’s minimum salary is just over $2 million yearly, landing under $1 million by deadline day.

However, Golden State sits $264,000 below the second apron. Roughly $700,000 must go before bringing any new contracts on board. That part feels simple, but the real hunt is for a partner ready to absorb extra roster weight.

Meanwhile, the Warriors need Spencer in the rotation. Since Butler’s absence, De’Anthony Melton has produced good results. However, given that Melton is on injury management, Spencer becomes the likelier of the two to take bigger minutes. He has proven to be a dependable contributor when on the court. He had a five-game stretch in early December, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds.

The Warriors now walk a tightrope. Kuminga’s uncertain trade status has forced them to rethink their deadline strategy. Meanwhile, Spencer’s ticking clock adds pressure to every call made. Every choice feels layered, risky, and interconnected; one move could solve another or create chaos.