Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is set to hit restricted free agency this summer after an up-and-down fourth season in Golden State. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic details, Kuminga’s future with the Warriors is uncertain due a number of factors.
League sources tell Slater that Kuminga still views himself as a future All-Star and is trying to find a home where he can have an expansive offensive role to showcase his abilities. The 22 year-old forward had a rocky playoff run, having been outside of the rotation for most of the first-round series against Houston, only to have a featured role in the second-round series vs. Minnesota after Stephen Curry sustained a hamstring strain.
Kuminga was an effective and efficient scorer (24.3 PPG on .554/.389/.720 shooting) in those four games against a strong defense, Slater notes, giving some credence to the notion that the former lottery pick could put up big individual numbers under the right conditions. And despite some differences of opinion in how Kuminga sees — and values — himself and the way the team has wanted him to play, none of the differences between the involved parties are “irreconcilable,” according to Slater’s sources.
However, Kuminga may not be able to achieve his individual goals playing for the Warriors, who are trying to build out a championship roster around Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. The “cleanest path” forward might be finding a sign-and-trade that could work for both the Warriors and Kuminga, Slater writes.
As Slater observes, head coach Steve Kerr has long hoped Kuminga would become a Shawn Marion-type player — someone who can excel without the ball, defend multiple positions, and rebound at a high level. But Kuminga is more of a ball-dominant scorer who is inconsistent in other areas, making his on-court fit in Kerr’s system an awkward one at times.
While the Nets are not currently expected to give Kuminga an offer sheet, Brooklyn may be open to the idea of multi-team sign-and-trade scenarios this offseason as a means to maximize its cap space, league sources tell Slater. That could give the Warriors, Kuminga, Nets and interested suitors a mutually beneficial way of finding something they’re all seeking.
The problem with a potential sign-and-trade, Slater explains, is that Kuminga will be subject to base year compensation rules, and the Warriors would be hard-capped at the first apron if they take back more than 50% of Kuminga’s starting salary. While everyone involved is “expected to explore all options,” due to the aforementioned restrictions, Warriors sources have been dropping hints to Slater that the “most obvious and prudent path” might be simply re-signing Kuminga.
Going that route would give Golden State more time to assess Kuminga’s fit, and the base-year restrictions would be removed in that scenario in January, when Kuminga would theoretically become trade-eligible.
Owner Joe Lacob is known to be a big fan of Kuminga’s and told the young forward to stay open-minded about a potential return, according to Slater, who hears Kuminga “hasn’t slammed the door shut” on that possibility. The Warriors have final say due to Kuminga being a RFA, but Slater suggests Kuminga might not be thrilled with a reunion unless certain circumstances change.
Kuminga to the Sixers for the 3rd pick. Thoughts?
How you gonna pull that off within the rules? Also I doubt that GSW want a prospect outside Flagg when trying to win now with an aging core, and the value of 3 is way less than 1 and 2 for asset purposes where most good draft people have the 3-8 prospects all sort of the same.
Even if it worked under the rules why would Philly do that? #3 is way too high for him. Would have to attach someone else or another pick.
It also costs you less if you trade for the #8 pick if the guy you like out of those 5 gets there since that far down a few teams have several picks and are maybe shopping a few.
Kuminga is better option to build with than any non-Flagg player in the draft. Kuminga is only 23 next season. If anything that’s way too light for an elite talent like Kuminga.
But the Ws don’t have any leverage to extract a pick that high. It’s obvious that they don’t want to keep him at the offer sheet he’s going to get.
Such an elite talent that he found himself on the bench during the playoffs until the Warriors desperately needed offense with Curry injured. Teams are tripping over themselves to give up a king’s ransom for Kuminga.
For the record, I do think Kuminga can be a solid player but the Warriors just have no leverage in a deal. Anybody who trades for Kuminga needs to extend him so him being young doesn’t matter as much. Its a weak draft but a high lottery pick is still a lot for Kuminga.
What teams are tripping over themselves to trade for JK?
Yeah Kuminga was on the bench simply because Kerr is an idiot who wants to play Pat Spencer-types over actual elite talents, I have been saying it for years at this point. Kerr is the only reason why Kuminga is an elite talent who is behind in his development because Kerr has put zero effort into developing him. Catch up.
GSW should fire Kerr and replace him with Andre.
> Its a weak draft but a high lottery pick is still a lot for Kuminga.
Seriously? No way, Lacob or Dunleavey trade for Kuminga for that anything lower than the 2nd pick. At 18 years old, Kuminga was a high lottery pick in the deepest draft since 2003. He’s still only 22 years old, and he’s “de-risked”.
The draft is still a crap shoot, even for lottery picks. 40% of the top 15 picks are out of the NBA by year 6. 25% of the top 10 picks are released by the teams that drafted them before being offered a rookie extension. This year, Cooper Flagg looks like a sure thing, and probably Dylan Harper.
Assuming a draft pick sticks in the NBA, it takes time to develop. Victor Wembynyama and Chet Holmgren are the only players drafted in the last 5 years that could start for a championship contender by their second year, and that includes Anthony Edwards.
The Warriors need a starting calibre player that can help in the next 2 years. Cooper Flagg and, maybe, Dylan Harper can do that.
The hornets must trade the 4 pick for Kuminga
Nets are unlikely to make a offer to Kuminga
Kuminga is a cold product
Warriors would have to take bad contracts for SNT
Huerter and 12th pick for Kuminga
That is the best SNT offer Warriors can get
Below teams don’t want Kuminga
Wizards
Spurs
Pelicans
Sulliovan you are so funny if it was the lakers trading Kuminga you would have them gettinf Flagg for Kuminga. 12th pick in the draft is not that great of a position and to take a bad player back is even worse.
Sullivan that 12th pick is a bit much,any second rounders available instead?
I really wonder if they offer that much. RFAs rarely get that much in a s&t bc the team losing the FA has no leverage.
In Kuminga’s case is they don’t want him to be lost for nothing. So they can match a contract since it will not be a large deal.
Everyone is pumping the idea that the Nets aren’t seeking anything. Not buying that.
The Nets GM said that he was only going after polished free agents. They have a boat load of picks. Why screw it up and sign a FA now.
why screw up losing..?
Teams have to rebuild at some point. The CBA limits what you can spend. So, why waste a lot of money on FAs?
Next summer there will be a lot of teams with cap space… then good luck getting any FAs to sign there.
I doubt the Nets will be contenders next summer.
I doubt it also. It’s a multi-yr progression.
It makes more sense for Kuminga to stay. There is a better path for him to succeed. If he had been more consistent last season, the would never have traded for Butler. They were able to play Wiggins and JK together with some success. Butler is obviously better than Wiggins. He can learn from Butler. Having a camp together, they can work on the issues that couldn’t be addressed in a playoff chase.
He has to stay
Nobody would offer anything SNT
Warriors don’t let him walk for nothing
Warriors don’t take bad contract like Huerter
I’m sort of assuming that Kerr will sort of think of a new system that allows JK to be the primary next year. Just to help manage all the minutes for Curry and Butler. Maybe not a completely brand new one, but I think he’ll start incorporate some of the sets he had when KD was on the team.
Just wish JK hustled more for boards, etc.
Stay with Kerr? Cmon. I don’t know what Kuminga can become, but I’m sure he won’t become anything of note under Kerr. Kerr wants him to be three’n D player. And on low-ish salary like Moody – that’s why he didn’t play him too much, to keep his value down. I think it would be a waste of talent and time to try to do that. His 4 years in San Francisco have already been mostly a waste, he did not develop there. The guy can score with ease on the likes of Gobert under the basket or on Houston’s defenders, and he had it in him from day 1. He added very little to what he had.
What saves the player is that he was one of those 18 yo rookies with a late birthday. He’s only 3 months older than Amen Thompson, so he has a lot of basketball ahead of him.
I have been very disappointed with Kuminga and Giddey’s time at their respective teams. Those were not good landing spots for them, for sure. That 2021 draft class has so much talent, it’s crazy. Kuminga would be head and shoulders above everybody else in the 2024 draft class and a clear No. 1 pick.
Claiming Kerr didn’t play JK just to “keep his value down” is one of the worst takes I’ve heard on here
Okay, I agree that was a reach to say that, Kerr is a coach, not a manager. But still, Kuminga’s entire time there gave me the impression that as an organisation, they never wanted to be in a situation where they would have to give him a contract like they did to Poole or the one Wagner received last summer.
What do you by Kerr not wanting to play Kuminga? That was obviously not true. He played him lot. He struggled with his shooting. Why can’t you see that?
Giants74 said:
> What do you by Kerr not wanting to play Kuminga? That was
> obviously not true. He played him lot. He struggled with his
> shooting. Why can’t you see that?
You may be the only person on this board that thinks any of those things are true, but keep on saying it.
Dezpoo said:
> I’m sort of assuming that Kerr will sort of think of a new system that allows
> JK to be the primary next year.
Then you haven’t been listening to what Kerr has been saying publicly since the end of the season: nothing about the system is changing, no special provisions are being made for Kuminga, and Kuminga will leave if he doesn’t.
Warriors should either make him part of the Giannis package, or sign and trade and hold onto him until January when he becomes eligible to be traded and see what superstar is pouting and trade them for each other.
sign and trade and hold..?
Rather, sign and hold then trade as soon as its possible.
Giannis is not get traded to the Warriors.
Best for JK to go to another team, more playing time and somewhere he can actually find and develop his game.
Lots of putrid teams in the East.
He just needs to work on his FT shooting and listen to Jimmy and Draymond, like he was doing. It showed in the playoffs.
He has the tools, just too everywhere on the court at times …… some games he seems content chucking up threes, like it was going out of fashion.
It doesn’t help that it’s Kerr, probably one of the worst coaches when it comes to player development.
Send him out East.
He doesn’t shoot that many 3s. It has been a problem for awhile now.
Well, it looks like the best move for the business is to sign Kuminga to a reasonable contract and then wait till December or the trading deadline to move him if it’s still not working out.
The whole reason why Kuminga doesn’t have a contract is that he refused to sign “a reasonable contract”, and I don’t see him doing it now. GSW was probably hoping to get him on smth like Deni Avdija, 14 mil a year for 5 years, but that is not happening, Kuminga won’t sign a deal like that.
Is he going to become a UFA in a year if he refuses a contract and takes a qualifying offer for 1 season? I think that’s how it works.
Nice way to show your ignorance. The Warriors offered Kuminga $30 million a year. He wanted $35 million. This is publicly known.
Giants, are you referring to my statement? Are you saying I’m showing my ignorance?
Why write abrasive wording? We’re both warrior fans?
What was “commonly known” was that Jonathan Kuminga wanted the max. $30 million I believe is $10 million less per season than the max?
OK, so Peter, if JK doesn’t sign a reasonable contract then you see him signing a max contract somewhere?
Who’s going to give JK $40 million a year? I really don’t think that’s going to happen.
Last summer, Orlando gave Wagner the max, and his stats (per 36 and advanced) were similar if not slightly worse than Kuminga’s. Toronto gave Ingram 3/120. I’d rather have Kuminga than Ingram, probably, but not sure. Green got 3/105 at Houston – I would 100% rather have Kuminga than Green.
Kuminga and his team likely think “I can prove myself just give me the chance”, so the option of taking 3 years on 30+ a year like Green somewhere away from GS must be tempting, and then sign the max.
And the 30 mil thing, at first the reports were that the sides were not even close in negotiations, and then that GS were not willing to go above 30 per. Sounds like what they offered initially was even lower than that. Kuminga clearly felt undervalued during talks, because of minutes played etc.
Also, 30mil for 5 years (which is what GS wanted) is not the same as 30 mil for 3. With the cap going up, in 3, 4, 5 years 30 mil is what decent and even average role players will be making, GS and most teams around the league would love to have somebody of Kuminga’s quality, physicality, age and no serious injury history on that kind of money 3-5 years from now. But Kuminga is planning to be making max by that time, which will be what, 60 million per year?
If I am the Warriors I am replacing Kerr with Andre and then getting rid of everyone under 6’6″ on the roster not named Curry. Draymond at the 5 is over, he himself admits it, he has absolutely no way of stopping Wemby or anyone over 7 foot. GSW needs bigs and they need as many of these guys as possible: Giannis, KD, Sabonis, Vucevic, Brook Lopez, Steven Adams, Ben Simmons, Jarrett Allen, Bam Adebayo, Herbert Jones, Isaiah Hartenstein, Walker Kessler, Anthony Davis.
I could see Nets trading away Cam Johnson and signing Kuminga to be a volume scorer on a bad Nets team next season. They own their own ‘26 pick.
2 Separate trades, but agreed in conjunction with each other:
1. Moody, the W’s ‘26 lotto-protected first rounder and a few near-minimum W’s free agents signed and traded for salary matching to the Nets for Cam Johnson.
2. Kuminga signed and traded to the Nets for a few 2nd rounders.
Warriors capped at $207M for next year but they dramatically improve their starting and closing 5 by adding Cam Johnson to their Curry/Draymond/Butler core. All 4
are free agents in two years, lining up a potential summer of ‘27 star free agent pursuit when the books are clean.
Their regular-season C’s would still be Post, Jackson-Davis, maybe Looney re-signed on the cheap, but come playoff time it’s still Draymond at 5 with Buddy Hield or Podz in small lineups.
Free agents in 2027 won’t be great. Out of the 2023 class Wemby, Thompson twins, Brandon Miller will get extended with their teams, for sure. And who else is there?
This summer is actually very good, there are excellent RFAs out there from an amazingly high-quality 2021 draft class – Giddey, Aldama, Cam Thomas, Quentin Grimes, Kuminga himself. And good FAs in Myles Turner, Beasley, Naz Reid, Alexander-Walker.
I think it will be a lot worse in 2027 and especially in 2028 when the weak 2024 draft players will be RFAs.
Summer of ‘27 is Giannis and Jokic if they don’t sign extensions. Both are reasonable flight risks from their incumbent teams too.
Draymond has literally said he does not want to play the 5 anymore. He is useless vs 7 footers, he shouldnt be the biggest guy on the floor, GSW must go bigger in order to survive this brutal, lopsided West. Why cant we get rid of east/west and just run 1 big league? Sick of crappy East teams in the playoffs…
Wow some real delusional fans in here.
Use him in a package for Giannas, you don’t have enough assets and can’t combine multiple players in sign and trade offers.
He must stay blah blah blah, there ain’t no way he stays, he wants minutes and to be an all star and Kerr had him benched and wants him to be a Shawn Marion type off ball guy. Unless they agree to overpay him like crazy then I don’t see him wanting to return.
To Charlotte for the 4th… why not draft a guy and save 20mil a season ….
To Sixers for the 3rd… firstly not how the salary cap works. Secondly again why not draft a guy and just save the money….
Brooklyn makes loads of sense cause they have cap space and lack of long term players actually worth building around. Kuminga might not be their main guy but he could be worth developing or using as an asset or something.
Honestly I thought what about Kuminga for Wiggins…
GSW know Wiggins and how he fits in their system and all that. He’s won with them in 22 and would be the ideal 3/4th option and wing defender. As for Miami they get the bigger upside young player. Herro Kuminga Bam Ware Jovic Jacquez they’d have a nice little core there. Plus play style he’s perfect wing/forward athletic, aggressive, hard working and good defender
Otherwise Kuminga for Rob Williams and Thybulle. Add depth and defenders and try save some money idk
Portland needs that ball dominant PF. They are well positioned for a multi team trade, too, if necessary. And based on last years’ draft and with their move with Avdija, I’m thinking they are looking for someone 24 or 25 yrs old with some experience. They have to move Jerami Grant, he’d have to be a part of all of this.
Warriors fans out here saying they want Steven Adams and Brook Lopez and you call them “delusional”. There is simply no situation where you wont say this. Wiggins is a legitimately bad player and his performance on the Heat proves it.
From the book of Nostradamus: JK will sign and it will be smiles all around. Until game 8, or there about, when JK calls his own number 3 times on plays that Kerr called for Steph. Then it’s back to the end of the bench and wait to be traded before the deadline. Dray and Steph run Floor Operations for the Dubs…
When was JK ever at the end of the bench? Draymond said publicly that he was willing to give up his starting role for Kuminga.