During Thursday’s Bleacher Report live stream (YouTube link), NBA insider Jake Fischer reiterated multiple times that he expects the four primary restricted free agents — Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors), Josh Giddey (Bulls), Quentin Grimes (Sixers) and Cam Thomas (Nets) — to continue to be in contract standoffs with their respective teams for some time.
“Again, we are still in a holding pattern with all these restricted free agents, and we are — at this juncture — expecting all those situations to linger deeper into August and get into September as well,” Fischer said. “Don’t expect a resolution for Jonathan Kuminga, for Josh Giddey, for Quentin Grimes, for Cam Thomas, anytime soon.”
According to Fischer, the Warriors haven’t shown any interest in what the Kings and Suns have offered in sign-and-trade scenarios for Kuminga. But they also don’t want to lose the former lottery pick for nothing in return.
“Jonathan Kuminga’s side, I believe, right now, would be willing to take a two-plus-one with a player option three-year deal,” Fischer said. “I think that Jonathan Kuminga’s side would take this one-plus-one situation with Golden State — this two-year, $45MM offer that’s been on the table — if he were to get a player option in year two.
“But I was told yesterday from various sources that Golden State is going to be holding firm … that second year is going to be a team option. And that’s kinda where this staring contest is at.”
Here’s more from Fischer:
- The Warriors currently have only nine players signed to standard contracts, with the Kuminga stalemate continuing to hold up their other offseason business. Fischer suggested that Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II are likely to be signed after Kuminga’s situation is resolved. Malcolm Brogdon and Seth Curry remain on Golden State’s radar as well, according to Fischer, with Javonte Green another player mentioned.
- The Bulls are monitoring Coby White‘s upcoming free agency, Fischer said. White will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and Fischer noted that there has been talk of White wanting a contract that exceeds $30MM annually. That expectation may be factoring into the calculation of Chicago playing a level of hardball with Giddey’s restricted free agency.
- Thomas looks the most likely of the four RFAs to accept his qualifying offer, Fischer confirmed. The high-scoring guard views himself as a $30MM+ per year player, but the Nets haven’t approached that figure and have only offered him short-term deals to this point, Fischer said.
- While Fischer confirmed the latest reports on Trae Young‘s disappointment at the lack of an extension offer from the Hawks, he said that it was also somewhat expected by Young’s camp. Fischer called this season an opportunity for Young to maximize a roster built to complement his game, as well as an opportunity for the new front office to evaluate the players on the roster. If Young is able to maximize the team’s potential and earn All-NBA honors, he’d be eligible for a much more lucrative extension, and he also has a 2026/27 player option he could decline to enter free agency next year as possibly the top free agent on the board.
- Prior to dealing him to the Jazz, the Celtics had talks with the Grizzlies during Summer League about a deal that would send Georges Niang to Memphis, according to Fischer, who said a rumored framework of Anfernee Simons for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was never discussed. Fischer noted that before RJ Luis signed a two-way deal with the Jazz, he was considering signing with the Celtics. The Jazz are expected to keep Niang as a veteran leader. Fischer also said that he’s not as confident that Simons gets traded before the season starts as he was that Niang would be dealt.
- Fischer confirmed that Bennedict Mathurin is on track to receive a bigger role this season with the Pacers due to Tyrese Haliburton‘s injury, and that Mathurin is also hoping to secure a deal that would pay him $20-30MM per year. Fischer added that many of the unsigned rookie scale extension candidates likely won’t finalize new deals until the October deadline.
Eli Cohen contributed to this post.
looking how the warriors team is built Curry’s brother will be needed more than the other 2 because he can shoot 3s and the warriors do not have a 3 expert off the bench.
Impossible to make a reality but Giddey to the Suns for Jalen Green.
Suns backcourt of Booker and Green doesn’t make sense and Giddey as a young PG does.
Coby White goes back to his favoured point guard spot and Jalen Green goes to Chicago.
Kuminga makes a ton of sense for the kings but they don’t have many attractive assists they’d be willing to give up. However give DeRozan to the Nets. Give Cam to Houston and Reed and Steven Adams/Clint Capela to the Warriors.
Kings have LaVine Murray Kuminga and Sabonis.
Nets get DeRozan as a vet for their young guards.
Houston gets an elite shooter in Cam to go with KD, Thompson, Sengun, Eason, Jabari and all those guys they have there and then finally the Warriors gets a young guard in Reed with massive potential and a veteran defensive centre.
Like I said impossible moves but would make a good reality
Kuminga for Adams/Capela is nasty, nasty work. Never happening.
You missed Reed Sheppard aswell who I think would really work well in GSW’s system and learning from Curry.
They don’t need a big name return for Kuminga cause you have Butler and Green there it’s more about fit and roster cohesion and team chemistry. They need a big that’ll protect the rim, get a bunch of rebounds, set really good screens and do the dirty work. At SG you have Moody, Heild and Podz.
Kuminga returning doesn’t make this team better, it might help in the long run after Curry, Butler and Green but right now nah.
Reed Sheppard is even worse. GSW has to get bigger, not smaller. I admire your analysis but your conclusion is just plain wrong.
Also Houston isn’t trading with GSW, they are rivals, not trade partners. Respect to your analysis, I can see what you mean, but then you put 6’1″ rookie Reed Sheppard for Kuminga? The fans would revolt. Giddey is who we want, Reed Shappard is even more raw than Kuminga! Kerr can’t develop anyone either, so what makes you think he is a better fit? Does Sheppard even have more trade value than Kuminga on his own? Nope. GSW would rather keep Kuminga til Dec 15 and then trade him.
You tried to put a round peg in a square hole here, kudos, but ultimately it’s just plain never happening.
What would Chicago achieve by that? Why would they want to play Coby at PG and pay him if they can have Giddey at PG, pay him, and Giddey is a better player.
Yeah I’m not sure on that. White I think has a really really good skillset which pairs well with 99% of everyone in the league whereas Giddey needs touches, is a streaky shooter, is poor defensively a lot of the time, he’s someone you need the right pieces around. A White and Green backcourt to Ken is a lot better than a Giddey and White backcourt.
In terms of potential I’d rather have Green than Giddey and in terms of positioning I’d rather White at PG than SG…
Giddey runs the offense, so ofc he gets touches. But he’s not a big ballhog like Trae, for example. Check out his usage stats and compare them with Jalen Green; you’ll be surprised.
Giddey rebounds very well. Joint best backcourt rebounder in the league with Josh Hart. So he gets you extra possessions.
I agree that Green has a lot of upside, but so does Giddey. I won’t argue who’s better – it’s a question of preference, and who’s better at reading tea leaves :)
With Coby, Chicago will have one more year to evaluate him. Maybe they’ll try to re-sign him next summer, maybe they’ll decide against it.
With Giddey, they need to sign him now. They are not going to do a sign-and-trade, that’s too difficult and convoluted for everyone involved. And he’s their most exciting young player together with Buzelis, why would they want to trade Giddey anyway…
Nets should have signed Kuminga at 25 mill three yrs guaranteed. When they had the chance. Warriors would have never matched it. And we could have avoided tons of articles about Kuminga RFA.
With roster Bulls have. I don’t see where Kuminga fits.