Jonathan Kuminga has been unwilling to accept a two-year, $45MM offer from the Warriors that includes a second-year team option, Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, confirming reporting from ESPN. Amick also confirms that the restricted free agent forward has signaled an increased willingness to accept his one-year, $8MM qualifying offer.
Recognizing that it wouldn’t make a ton of financial sense for Kuminga to take the qualifying offer, Golden State is likely hoping that stance is a bluff, according to Amick, who says the Warriors’ “Plan A” is to convince the 22-year-old to re-sign on a short-term deal and then revisit trade options prior to February’s deadline, when it would be easier to move him.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Base Year Compensation]
The Suns are reportedly willing to offer Kuminga $90MM over four years, but sources tell Amick that sign-and-trade talks between Phoenix and Golden State haven’t “progressed in any serious manner,” with the Warriors not showing any real interest in the sort of package the Suns is offering. Marc J. Spears of ESPN previously mentioned Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards, and second-round picks as the primary assets Phoenix is willing to put on the table.
While the Kings have reportedly offered a package that includes Dario Saric, Devin Carter, and draft capital (reportedly multiple second-round picks or a protected first-rounder), they’ve also proposed a deal that would involve Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick, with Kuminga getting a three-year, $63MM contract, Amick reports. In that scenario, Amick explains, the 2030 pick would be lottery-protected and would turn into the least favorable of the Kings’ and Spurs’ 2031 first-rounders if it doesn’t convey in ’30.
The Warriors have insisted the first-round pick be unprotected, per Amick, which has been a sticking point. Additionally, other reports – including one from Matt George of Locked on Kings (YouTube link) – have indicated that Golden State doesn’t have much real interest in Monk either. Acquiring Monk without sending out any additional salary beyond Kuminga would hard-cap the Warriors at the first tax apron without the flexibility to fill out the rest of their roster, barring cost-cutting moves.
Here are a few more items of interest related to the Kuminga situation:
- The Kings like the fact that Kuminga could be slotted in at the power forward position, allowing Keegan Murray to move to his preferred small forward spot, Amick writes, adding that Sacramento’s three-year, $63MM offer is designed to ensure the team avoids surpassing the luxury tax line this season.
- Noting that possible Warriors free agent additions like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are in limbo while the team seeks resolution on Kuminga, Amick adds Gary Payton II to that list, suggesting a return to Golden State remains in play for the veteran guard.
- While there has been speculation that the Kings would trade DeMar DeRozan if they acquire Kuminga, Matt George of Locked on Kings (YouTube link) says everything he’s heard suggests the front office isn’t eager to move DeRozan and would want to hang onto him even if Kuminga ends up in Sacramento. “Every single time I’ve inquired about the Kings moving on from DeMar DeRozan, I’ve been met with a pretty definitive ‘no, the Kings aren’t looking to trade him,'” George said. “But if they were to go out and get Jonathan Kuminga – which I still believe is unlikely at this point – they would ask DeRozan to come off the bench.”
- Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com hears from sources that a two-year, $48MM deal that includes a player option is one framework that has been floated in talks between Kuminga and the Warriors. The report doesn’t make it clear which side has “floated” that idea (presumably it’s coming from Kuminga’s camp) or whether the forward would insist on retaining his implicit no-trade clause in that scenario.
Same report with nobody wanting to take the lead in trade offers. It looks most likely Kuminga signs a QO and mid season he is traded. No reason for either side to budge since no team has shown they want Kuminga enough to trade away a decent package. Best guess is some team has a big injury needing instant offense and trades for Kuminga.
> no team has shown they want Kuminga enough to trade away a decent package
arc89, you’ve repeated that almost every day for the last month, and you get lots of replies from folks that assume that’s correct. But do you understand that’s not the issue?
The main issue is that Kuminga wants $25M/yr, and no team, including SAC and PHO, have the cap space. The second issue is that the Warriors current cap situation precludes trades where they could get value for Kuminga.
Folks that are waiting for SAC to offer better draft picks aren’t understanding that’s only a small part of the problem.
That is why i am saying that there is no need for either side to budge because no team shown a willingness to go after Kuminga 100%. Suns actually can’t unless they drop some payroll without taking in payroll. Sac only want to trade bad contracts to warriors to get payroll down. That is why I am saying if a big injury happens to a team that wants to contend then things will start moving. I still say some other team than Sac or Suns will end up with Kuminga.
The Phoenix Suns reportedly offered Jonathan Kuminga a four-year, $90 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, according to Arizona Sports and other sources. This offer is significantly more lucrative than the Warriors’ own two-year, $45 million proposal. The Warriors, however, have not been receptive to the Suns’ trade package, which includes Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards, and four second-round picks, according to Sports Illustrated.
At this point both Kuminga and Warriors are playing hard ball. PersI wouldn’t go to Suns or Kings.
Personally ………….. big thumbs
Al, if the Suns sign him to that big deal, the Warriors have to take back that money from Suns in players $$.
Who would those players be unless it’s a three teamer. Maybe 4 team.
And if they bring those guys in then no Horford and no DeAndre Melton? I don’t think the Warriors want to bring that much money back in salary.
It’s a big mess, but at least we know why nothing has happened yet.
> It’s a big mess, but at least we know why nothing
> has happened yet.
Gary- because it’s how we roll, I’ll tell you exactly what has happened to date and will happen in the future.
1. Lacob wants to retain his asset, at least until December. He’s not selling low. In December, that asset will be more fairly priced. And GSW will have a better sense of what to do with it based on the season
2. There are no viable sign and trade deals, nor has GSW never expected any. First, teams don’t have cap space for Kuminga. Second, trades involving Kuminga would trigger apron holds, and limit their moves.
3. Kuminga has permission to seek sign and trade deals because the Warriors don’t believe Kuminga will get an offer more than their ~$25M pain threshold AND they don’t want to damage relations with Kuminga.
4 All parties now believe a deal can be struck. The Warriors have to offer $2-$3M more and the 2 parties need to resolve the year-2 no-trade clause. The fact that Kuminga just decided to go to Africa is indicative.
5. The only risk the Warriors face is that Kuminga decides to sign the QO, and they are worried about that because of the Kerr situation. I don’t believe Lacob will let that happen.
No chance of QO because Lacob and Kuminga want win win outcome. Lacob still want Kuminga to play his heart out til Dec.
@michol, Good points. I’d add that despite what most posters here say, Lacob and Dunleavey want Kuminga to stay and develop with the Warriors long-term. They have to plan on a 4-5 yr horizon.
@aristotle
Your take makes some sense, except there’s the issue of needing to sign 2 FAs that likely won’t be available in December…
> except there’s the issue of needing to sign 2 FAs that
> likely won’t be available in December…
@NbaIsOk, (I’m glad somebody reads my long-winded posts!) I’m trying to say that it’s totally up to GSW to make an offer that they know JK will sign, and that this can be co-ordinated with the 2 FA signings. GSW has no other card to play.
The S&T discussions have always been a moon-shot, and now that phase is over. Kuminga isn’t expecting any viable new S&T offers, which is why he just left for AfricaBasket for 5 weeks.
GSW can finalize the deal with Kuminga’s agent while he’s in Africa or they can keep on waiting until Oct 1.
One would hope GSW is able to get it done.
Thats why I say both are at hard ball.
Honestly at this point I wouldn’t sign more than two yrs. This way I can max out then, 24 yrs old. Imo he is not signing unless he gets 25 mill or more. Warriors have to wait it out now. Look for best deal. I been telling you for the longest it was coming to this. Richards is a decent get. I ask for Dunn also.
Kings offer is not good. Frankly I give up Murray no problem. Tells me they aren’t serious. You got till end of Sept. Someone will step up lol. These are first offers.
O’Neale hurt the warriors payroll situation is why its not a good trade proposal. He is owed for 3 years over $10 million a year. With the warriors payroll so top heavy he is too expensive for the team to carry all 3 years.
@ Aristotle…Warriors are trippin if Monk and a future first are on offer. And, yes. Sign and trade Kuminga for $25m per while taking Monks salary back 100% works. You should try any number of trade machine sites or apps. Could then sign Horford. Monk is a major upgrade over Buddy and Podz. If this guy goes the QO route, Warriors are screwed. Wasted season and nothing in return. Monk without a first is still a better option than that.
Getting Monk would hard cap them which limits their additional moves.
Limit or stop any and all additional moves? Warriors can still sign Horford after taking on Monk if they want to.
> Getting Monk would hard cap them which limits
> their additional moves.
Yup.
The daily Kuminga stalemate rerun.
Monk is better than Carter, but would JK sign for 3 years at $21 mil? The Warriors should remove the team option on the 2 year so they can sign Horford and Melton.
that draft pick in the monk deal is not a good draft pick might as well say its a early 1st riound pick. By 2030 Spurs should be one of the top 4 teams in the NBA so their first round pick would be around the 28th pick. See how the Kings are unwilling to trade a 1st round pick that is atleast middel of the draft.
Hoops Rumors runs a lot of Kuminga-Warriors news, but I’m not complaining. The comments get lit up with these news/no-news posts.
How about S&T for Nick Richards and Ryan Dunn and Suns’ protected/swapped 2026 1st and the seconds they were throwing in? Suns seems like a good destination for Kuminga, Richards seems like an improvement over recent Looney. Royce O’Neale has three years under contract and that seems like a problem given his age. Then Dubs can get Horford Melton and whoever else is left on the scrap heap.
Trade is illegal. Not nearly enough outgoing from PHX for them to offer Kuminga the contract he wants.
Most of the trades PHX could make would hard cap GSW at the first apron and then they couldnt get anything else especially Horford.
Thats the problem with both SAC and PHX you also need to send additional money into someones space since GSW can only take back half of the value of Kumingas outgoing. Both the teams would need to shed 20-30M in salary to make Kuminga the offers they have made, but GSW can only take half back, and probably wont take bad salary.
GSW can take back more in certain scenarios where they do 2 transactions with an 8M player going into the TPE and then the other as Kuminga matching. It only works though with certain players that fit correctly so they dont hard cap themselves. Like White for Kuminga and Ayo into the exception makes the money going either way mostly work so GSW isnt HC.
I dont see any trade going down unless a team has a big injury and needs a Kuminga offense. Doesn’t look like teams with cap space is going to take a big price player. Kings are still jealous of the warrior rivalry so they don’t want to trade the warriors anything good. so i doubt it goes any where. Injuries could happen and open up multiple team trades.
Phx gets hard capped at apron 1 not GSW in a JK sign and trade
GSW’s hard caps will come in the form of what exceptions they use – Ex If JK walks full Mle apron 1 or TpMle apron 2
The hard cap is because almost all the trades force GSW to take to much salary back to be allowed to be a tax payer. Its isnt the HC from the S&T.
Yea there’s like 000001% chance GSW will hard cap themselves at apron 1 especially willingly
I see what your saying but its almost better here to have it not even exist as its not happening and throws holy confusion thats not needed
– They will fit sub 50% to comply w BYC or no deal at all – GSW isn’t forced to do anything they dont want with JK, they wont let him hurt them any more than he already has this summer
So no Richards/Dunn draft capital to Dubs, and Kuminga to Suns, and O’neale goes to a third team (Nets/Jazz) for some other unspecified draft picks? This BYC rule is really complicating these scenarios.
That is def doable JBS with the 3rd team taking O’Neal and a very good pull if GSW could get it with some draft capital
We were more kinda talking like Monk scenarios above at 18 Mill _ Your only taking in about 8 M there and would make the rest of the offseason a smooth sail as far as future adds. Probably even space to get a nice player on that trade exception you have banked currently
That’s what I’m talking about! Richards/Dunn and some picks. Let the Suns dump O’Neale on someone else. But that’s the problem O’Neale not on a good contract. If they want Kuminga there is a path, they just can’t expect Dubs to take on a bad contract with their already extremely top-heavy roster. Get Ishiba on the horn!!!
@JBS
Yeah it has to be an imbalanced trade. GSW want either a rotation player or real draft capital back. Both PHX/SAC would have to use additional draft assets to unload bad deals without taking money back, or rope in a 3rd team if any actually wanted those players.
I think there offer is a little ridiculous anyways. Give him a bit more money and years, sign him, sign everyone else, see how it looks, and probably trade him, but maybe not.
Its where this has been going to whole time. The most likely trades were either if he was part of a much bigger package going out in a big trade for a Giannis type, or if a team like WSH/BRK/UTH thats rebuilding wanted him, and would give some draft capital back while shipping a rotation role player on like 10M. Give them a real asset chest to be a player for a disgruntled star in season. Like what if Kahwi looks good but everyone else on the clippers gets hurt or sucks.
Yeah I like having him as a trade chip. But I feel like I’m watching Jordan Poole chuck it with abandon all over again, but in a different bad way. Not since Poole has there been such a poor fit on this team. BTW – dubs are never getting Freak. Not gonna happen, but if it does, GREAT!
If he could just improve his defense he would have time to grow and plenty of leash on everything else.
He has the tools but not the will. In the immortal words of Marcus Smart, “playing defense sucks.” You have to want to do it, but Kuminga missed out on the college game and he doesn’t understand what it means to play D. He should watch
“Marcus Smart Teaches Defense For 18 Minutes.”
His defensive iq is really bad. He is out of position sooooo much. Good on the ball, but really really bad at team defense. Made all the worse by the fact that one of the things that made the ’22 Warriors a top defense, was them switching from zone, to man to, box and 1 on the fly possession to possession, so opposing players couldnt get used to the coverages. It completely broke Luka in the WCF where Dallas had no engine.
As long as we all recognize its not just Kuminga, its Thomas, Giddey and Quickley too, who are holding everything up.
Suns are all talk: they said “4 2nd rounders” but they don’t even have 4 2nd rounders to trade right now. Only Jalen Green makes GSW better and who is gettable (unless you want to trade Kuminga and Butler for Green and Booker), but even then, they just aren’t a match and nothing they have makes GSW better, especially with MDJ’s white whale, Giannis, still out there with the potential to be moved.
It works better for GSW if GSW keep Kuminga to use in the package for Giannis. It’s all about how much money JK gets. If he gets closer to $20M, then GSW has more money to spend on next years roster. If its closer to $30M then it handicaps them until Dec 15, when Kuminga can be moved after signing.
Just as along as everyone understands that the Kings offers are beyond nonsense and impossible for the Warriors. Like, if Malik Monk is traded, then that means Kuminga, Horford and one of Hield or Moody are not on the team next year. Monk makes way too much for GSW to take on.
Because Kuminga is a base salary compensation status, the Warriors can only take back 50% of his new contract in a sign-and-trade deal. Monk makes about $18-19m next year. Not sure how Monk would end up with the Warriors in that scenario.
They’re allowed to take back 50% of Kuminga’s salary + an additional $8.5MM, but taking back more than 50% of his salary would hard-cap them at the first apron (which, as I noted in the story, is a problem if they take back a salary as big as Monk’s).
Yup, if Monk is coming, then Horford is a no-go and one of Buddy or Moody have to be traded for draft picks. Effectively swapping Monk for Kuminga, Horford, Hield/Moody. No thanks.
The Kings front office makes me so mad. They have the perfect guy to land Kuminga in Keegan Murray, but refuse to move him. I don’t know why the Kings are bothering here. Even if their interest in him is legit, at minimum they will have to wait til Dec 15 to get him. Anything they say right now is nonsense.
Why would the Kings trade Murray? That would be a bad idea.
Because it’s the only guy who moves the needle for GSW?
Why would the Warriors trade Kuminga? That would also be a bad idea. The Kings are the ones coming to GSW, not the other way around.
Also, the Kings FO is maybe the dumbest in the league, or at least top 5. They will do any number of stupid moves, always.
I got 99 ways to get hard capped!
@ luke….can the Warriors go over the first apron for the 25/26 season?
Currently yes they can exceed the 2nd if they need to but it would ruin there other plans.
Keep kuminga or not. Over the first apron regardless for 25/26. The guy doesn’t want to be in San Fran, just move on. It’s not like they can’t make other moves down the road. Buddy and podz aren’t good. I’d happily buy Biddy out if I had the cash these owners have.
@ Nrg82 They haven’t done anything to hard-cap themselves yet, but if they sign-and-trade Kuminga and take back more than 50% of his first-year salary (assuming they don’t send out any other salary in the same deal), they’d be hard-capped at the first apron and would be unable to surpass $195,945,000 at any point in 2025/26.
(This is the same rule that prohibits apron teams from being able to take back more salary than they send out in a trade, but with the “base year compensation” wrinkle, which means the Warriors’ outgoing amount for Kuminga would only count for half his salary, not the full amount.)
It’s why Monk is a tough fit for them — adding him would increase their apron salary to nearly $190MM for just 10 players, making it impossible to get to the minimum 14 players while staying below the first apron, even if they just signed four minimum-salary guys. They’ve likely have to move Hield and/or Moody just to fill out the roster.
IMO, it would be very difficult for the Warriors to sign-and-trade Kuminga to either the Kings or Suns in a deal that makes sense for everyone without a third team involved.
Somebody help the FankenStein catch up …..
Quickley is the reason we are here lol. He signed last year to a 32 mill a year deal. Overpaid
Thomas has nothing to do with Kuminga. He is a bench player at best.
Only Giddey is deserving of the comparison. He avgd a triple double second half of season. He probably deserves more money than Kuminga at this point. But imo Kuminga long run is best talent.
Warriors fans chillax —-/ better offers are coming.
Can they do a 1-yr 20M, no-no trade and move him in 3 months or whatever the first day available is.
Davey…Since when have the Warriors worried about tax implications. Can easily bring in Monk and sign Al if they want to. What’s is this telling you and the Warriors fans if they don’t do this?
They are hard capped so it does make them unable to go beyond to sign additional players without making some more moves I think.
That said, they are def not worried about tax. Just saw how much the Valks got revalued and they are already in the green lol
6m under first apron shipping out Kuminga and taking on Monk. Bi annual exception $4.6m available. That’s Al Horford. Be looking at vet minimum signing at that point. Warriors are going to be over the first any which way you look at it. Also got the rights to about forty guys. I’m sure Warriors could get it done if they want to.
what about the other 5 players they need to sign?
Vet minimum and obviously over the first apron. If your front office was confident in that squad, they’d pull the trigger. As of right now, what can the Warriors do?
they been over the first ribbon and it handicaps the team so much in what they can do the following year no way they will do it again. They will have a bigger problem because with raises that adds another $8 million to payroll. Most likely why they don’t want to take on players past next year.
That’s just your opinion but can still happen, no? What does signing Kuminga for $45m two years and keeping him do to Golden States cap? You’d be talking second apron not first, true?
Then it’s real hard to sign anyone considering the tax penalties, true? I feel like a far better scenario is basically flipping Kuminga for Monk, Horford and a first if that’s on offer. Then signing vet minimum contracts to stay under the second apron, no? Yes?
the first round pick offered is going to be in the 28 range so its not a good pick. Monk doesn’t fit the team. Its a bad trade. best to wait and if he takes a QO flip him to a playoff team in Dec. All they will get is a 1st round pick or a young player but for the future of the team its best to not handicap them. Because of being over the apron they were not able to sign Donte which hurt them. Play out the first few months and see if they are a playoff team. The west is so stacked this year why gamble and restrict the team in the future.
They already promised Horford the TPMLE at 5.7M I am sure on that. They also would only have 11 players and need 3 more to fill out the roster to the minimum player count which is 6.6M on vet mins. So yeah no they couldnt make it work at all…
So they can’t go over the first apron? You like everyone else has no idea what was promised.
The Bucks and Grizz should be making offers. Kuminga can start for them. And it’s a better offense for him.
I look at the Pistons being a team that should get Kuminga to go along with Cunningham, and Thompson. That would be a solid middle. They have the player they could trade with Duren. I hate to see Kuminga on Memphis because I think everyone is over looking them with how much young talent they have.
Yes I agree Pistons are also a good young team. He probably would love to go there. You gotta find a team with young talent that fits Warriors team NOW lol. That’s how you get value. Guys that help you now. A young big would be valuable.
How about a compromise with Kings? Instead of lottery protected 1st, how about top 5 pick protected 1st?
the 1st rounder they want to send the warriors is a horrible pick since its the least favorable pick. along with spurs pick that year.
How about “dont do a deal with the Kings unless Murray or Sabonis (or both, if Jimmy is added) are in the deal”???
Kerr doesn’t want him,Kuminga doesn’t want Kerr.The line was crossed long time ago.Sign and trade now,let him go
And yet like a divorcing couple that still share the house they own, theyre stuck together for a while in all likelihood.
Kuminga ” i want alimony and all the savings” Kerr “I want the house and vacaction rental”.
Cant forget the boat lols…
The funny thing is,Kerr made it clear,Kuminga don’t fit his vision.So basically all teams know Kuminga is worthless play-wise to Warriors,but Warriors FO trying to build this trade image-a young talent plus first round pick.Only desperate teams like Suns and Kings trying to squeeze something impossible,but there is no way Kuminga is better than Dosunmu+1rst.Warriors are done and should start rebuilding,there is no way Curry and coffee man will pull 82 games+
Pretty sure you meant Devin Carter not Jevon Carter who plays for the Bulls
Kuminga should just sign the QO and play the season and leave. Warriors can’t rally salvage this.
What a stupid org, as someone said, who got lucky drafting 3 all stars.