There has been no meaningful movement in any direction on the Jonathan Kuminga front in the past couple weeks, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Having returned to his offseason base of Miami after a recent trip to his home country – the Democratic Republic of the Congo – the restricted free agent forward remains underwhelmed by the Warriors‘ two-year, $45MM offer that includes a second-year team option (and a request that he waive his implicit no-trade clause).
With no guaranteed money beyond year one, a trade-friendly salary, and no ability for Kuminga to have any say in a mid-season trade destination, the structure of the proposal is too team-friendly for Kuminga’s liking, Slater explains. Sources tell ESPN that the 22-year-old’s priority has been to find a contract that positions him to be a long-term building block for either the Warriors or another club. A short-term deal that essentially sets him up to be traded runs counter to that goal.
Kuminga’s camp pitched a three-year, $82MM contract that the Warriors turned down, according to Slater, who adds that the forward has told people close to him that the idea of signing his one-year, $8MM qualifying offer and reaching unrestricted free agency in 2026 appeals more to him than accepting Golden State’s one-plus-one proposal.
Here are a few more rumors on some of the top unsigned free agents:
- Even though Al Horford has had to wait for resolution on the Kuminga situation and has mulled the idea of retirement, the Warriors seem to be operating as if the 39-year-old big man is a firm part of their plans for 2025/26, Slater writes. The idea would be to slot Horford in as their starting center to help reduce Draymond Green‘s regular season workload, according to Slater, though he notes that Horford’s minutes would have to be carefully managed as well.
- League sources consider the Kings to be the most likely landing spot for free agent point guard Russell Westbrook, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports within the same story. Multiple reports earlier this summer indicated that there may not be room in Sacramento’s backcourt for Westbrook unless the team were to trade Malik Monk or Devin Carter, but the former MVP is still being linked to the Kings even with those two guards still on the roster.
- The Sixers continue to project confidence that they’ll re-sign restricted free agent guard Quentin Grimes, says Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). While it’s not out of the question that Grimes could accept his $8.7MM qualifying offer, Fischer believes the two sides will work out a more mutually beneficial deal that begins at a higher salary.
How about both sides sign them both to 3/75 and trade Giddey for Kuminga?
They would need more players and teams involved since each would count for 25M coming in and 12.5M going out.
I’d take Giddey over Kuminga any day. At least he knows how to play the game.
@sleepyfloyd it literally doesn’t matter what you think, it only matters what the Bulls and Warriors FO’s think.
I don’t blame Kuminga for that. That’s a totally team friendly pact. In fact I would classify that as a slap in the face. Even the Bulls offered Giddey 80 million which is a bit low but at least guaranteed.
I am confused how Kuminga is not good enough to play when healthy by Kerr. Yet the Warriors expect to get a starter worthy trade assets back.
So far NOBODY even offered a good trade for Kuminga but bad contracts and over paid players. That is why Kuminga will most likely start the season with warriors and if he plays at an allstar level they can give him a extension or trade him for a real 1st round pick.
It’s such a cope by GSW, it admits Kerr is failing the team and is the problem, while also doubling down on Kerr’s lack of development skills by putting the onus on the player. No doubt in my mind from 2026 and beyond a healthy Kuminga is worth $30M in this league, but he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet, not even close and why? Because a head coach who knew how to bring him up is not who he has had thus far.
He’s close though. If GSW got a new HC he would have him right in 2 months. I would have sent Steve packing and replaced him with Andre by now, but I guess Steve has photos of Lacob or something. Andre and Kuminga essentially have the same toolbox.
It’s called leverage lol
Arc89-So far NOBODY even offered a good trade for Kuminga but bad contracts and over paid players.
That’s how you have to make a trade in the stupid NBA rule book. You see the NBA hierarchy has taken it upon themselves to decide what makes a fair trade for you. You don’t get to decide anymore.
Great! Have Kuminga next to Buzelis & Essengue…none of them can shoot 3’s or create their own shots. It’s more throwing crap at the wall by AKME and hoping it to stick. Hope they keep Giddey since we need an actual facilitator on the court. Atleast Giddey helps on the boards and pushes the pace, Kuminga will be the blackhole if he’s on the Bulls.
Only way Kuminga and Giddey trade teams is after the season if they both do a S/T wanting to plahy for the other team so about a 3% chance of that happening.
> Great! Have Kuminga next to Buzelis & Essengue…none of them can
> shoot 3’s or create their own shots.
raz427, Actually, Kuminga can create his own shot. That’s his strength. The problem is the Warriors don’t want him to do that alongside Jimmy and Steph. Kuminga doesn’t hold the ball if Steph is on the court, but he does when the Warriors use him as the primary scorer.
(Steph + Podz + Draymond + Kuminga + Wiggins) has been GSW’s most effective lineup over the past 2 years. If Chicago has passing and outside shooting to complement Kuminga, it can work.
If Chicago has passing and outside shooting to complement Kuminga, it can work.”
We don’t. That is why I said it will not work.
Got it.
Funny. The Warriors went to 6 Finals, winning 4, with an offense that was based on ball movement and outside shooting. Kuminga struggles with both of those. Kinda makes things difficult.
Also funny, when Butler was inserted in the lineup, the Warriors went 28-7 run. From a late lottery pick team to knocking on the conference finals. It was probably their best stretch in 5 years, a 63 win clip. Butler didn’t know his teammates, or offense. But he made it work. Kerr wasn’t going to replace Butler with Kuminga. Kerr told Kuminga to watch Butler. Kuminga had to adjust to the winning lineup.
Now Kuminga wants to be paid like an All-Star. He ain’t there, yet
Then why did they acquire him then? Ahhhhhhhhhh……..to start trouble?
Jeez he’s only 22 I feel like we’ve been talking about him for 5 years
That’s because we have been talking about him for 5 years plus. He was a highly rated highschool player, played 1 year with the Ignite and 4 years with the Warriors.
I think that is part of Kuminga’s problem. The Ignite seem to be an afterthought for the NBA. There was a High School a quarter mile away that had better facilities. I can’t imagine they put to much effort into the coaching.
Just sign the qualifying offer and push the ball back in San Francisco’s court; they’re not going to budge.