There has been “renewed” dialogue between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga‘s camp during the last week as the two sides continue to propose contract concepts, ESPN’s Anthony Slater said during a Friday appearance on NBA Today (YouTube link).
As he has reported previously, Slater says that Kuminga and his representatives are seeking a contract that positions him to be more of a building block than simply a trade chip.
“The word I’ve heard used from the Kuminga side is ‘pawn,'” Slater said. “He doesn’t want to sign this two-year, $45MM deal with a team option where he is clearly just being used to be traded mid-season. That’s not something he wants to sign up for.
“Now if you’re talking about a three-year deal, if you’re talking about something with a player option that shows him a little bit more commitment, that’s something he’d be interested in. But as of now, the Warriors have been hesitant to do that, and because of that, Kuminga is signaling to those around him that he’s very willing – and prefers – (to sign) the qualifying offer over the two-year, $45MM deal. That’s dangerous for the Warriors. They can try to call his bluff, but right now, it seems to be trending toward the qualifying offer.”
A handful of Warriors free agent targets – including big man Al Horford – are awaiting resolution on the Kuminga situation before they can potentially finalize deals with Golden State. However, with training camps not scheduled to start until the end of September and no crucial dates coming up for restricted free agents until the October 1 deadline to accept a qualifying offer, Slater wouldn’t be surprised if the standoff extends into September.
“August is a lot easier for people to just be like, ‘OK, we’ll get to you when we get to you,'” Slater said. “September’s where it starts to get a little bit more uncomfortable. I don’t know if there will be movement or a little bit more angst on the Warriors’ or Kuminga’s side, but September is where this could get a little bit dicier.”
As Slater acknowledges, it would be somewhat surprising if Kuminga gives up $14MM in 2025/26 salary and signs his $8MM qualifying offer instead of taking a two-year, $45MM offer from Golden State. But accepting the QO would put him in a better position to dictate his future, since it comes with a no-trade clause for ’25/26 and the ability to reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
[RELATED: Details On Qualifying Offers For Remaining RFAs]
“You talk to people around him and he’s pretty dug in,” Slater said. “If two for $45MM with the team option is going to be the best offer, he will see them in training camp on an ($8MM) expiring qualifying offer which includes a no-trade clause. Because he wants either to be viewed as more of a building block or he wants his freedom, his control of his future. And the qualifying offer, while less money, gives him control of his future.”
Good for him
Qualifying offer…sore back, bad Hamstring. Tweaked ankle taking a hell of a lot of time to heal. Going through the motions in practice. Working out mainly away from the team with his own trainers. Benched and a distraction in the locker room. Ouch, my back again. Buy me out please, I’m done with you. Bye. Not to mention the media circus. This could get real ugly for the Warriors and all for nothing.
Nothing is uglier than Green criminally assaulting Poole and getting away with it. Stop the hyperbole.
Honestly…it’s August 15. This whole situation has been blown out of proportion. Why is everyone so impatient to get rosters settled in August? That always happens in September.
You can pretty much assume all current FA’s left have had GSW reach out to them at this point. Literally all of them are waiting on this. We will see way more minor trades than signings until the “big 4” sign.
See both sides he’s delusional in thinking warriors should run offense through him frequently but I understand him not wanting to sign a deal that’s mostly to be used as the main piece in a trade for Giannis or any other star
He should’ve played way more minutes in the second half of the season. Kerr had to play his hustle white guys though
Warriors didn’t have a white guy at Kuminga’s position all year
> he’s delusional in thinking warriors should run offense
> through him frequently
He’s been extremely careful not to say that, or to be critical of the team in any way. What he has said is that if he’s given a chance with a team that believes in him, he can develop into an All-Star, and that in the future he’ll only play for a team that gives him a chance.
I can’t believe at his age he’s worried about a two year contract and where he would play.
He can’t actually be listening to advisors who tell him to take $8 million so he’s free NEXT summer.
TAKE THE 45 MILLION AND BE FREE IN 2 SUMMERS !!!
Whoever is giving him this advice is not too sharp upstairs. And if he’s the one coming up with this then.., well.., I already said it.
The only caveat is if he signs a two year deal now, does he become a RESTRICTED free agent again in 2 Summers? Is that a rule that I don’t know about?
If he signs a two year deal now, he’d be unrestricted when that deal expires. Obviously the moneybis important, but I also surmise he doesn’t want to get traded to a team that views him as a 6th guy – he wants to start and be a focal point of wherever he lands. That’s why the Sacramento situation appeals to him, because they’ve apparently given him indications that they see him in that light. The Warriors don’t, and that’s not going to change with Curry around and Butler playing the position he’s most suited to.
I don’t see much of a difference between being an unrestricted free agent and free to go to the city of his choice in 1 year or in 2 years.
The difference I DO see is almost $40 million.
It’s not a difference of $40 million though, because that offer wasn’t fully guaranteed. His year 2 would be just as tenuous as it is under the qualifying offer, except with even less leverage.
reflect, the second year is a team option.
If they don’t pick it up then he’s an unrestricted free agent after 1 year, which is his original request !!!
It just seems so obvious to me.., what am I missing?
If Kuminga takes a QO, it won’t be the last contract he signs. Next summer he’ll get a contract.
Kuminga, Giddey, Grimes compare favourably to most scrubs who took the QO over the last 10 years and who are brought up as examples of ‘QOs are bad for players.’
Giddey in particular could probably snap a bone, not play a single minute in 25-26 and still get close to 20 million from somebody next summer when there’s so much cap space around the league. Him and Kuminga are both very young, high lottery picks with a lot to be excited about.
How many players 22 and younger are there on the planet who are better than Kuminga and Giddey? Not many.
I still don’t think either of them takes a QO. They sign with their teams. But if they do, it won’t be a disaster for their careers and earnings.
Nerlens Noel
If his situation plays out like nerlens Noel warriors decline the option and he’s in the same spot. They need to at least guarantee the second year if he’s to give up the no trade clause he would apparently get if he takes their current offer
Two more years with the Warriors the way they use him will kill his chances at a good contract by then. And them trading him may put him on a team not best tor him. No, he’s smart doing this.
BlackAce, you nailed it.
Trade Butler, Kuminga and Toohey’s draft rights to Houston for Durant, Adams and or Capela
I can’t blame him for turning down the 2 year deal. Warriors should make the second year partial guaranted so in case of injury he still get paid.
People commenting seem to be missing the No Trade clause that comes with the qualifying offer. If he signs that, he decides where he wants to go!
If he signs the 2 year deal, the Warriors can/will likely trade him before he becomes a free agent at the end of the deal. And he doesn’t have control over where he ends up.
That no trade clause is worth a lot. Not sure how many millions, but he’s a multimillionaire either way, so maybe he just wants to play for a team he chooses!
Supposedly if he accepts their current offer it comes with a no trade but they want him to waive that and accept the second year being a team option! The compromise is one side gets one thing the other side the other thing
He’s 22 years old. One contract is either $45 million or it’s 22 1/2 million dollars.
The other choice is $8 million.
Nobody on the face of the planet can convince me that taking the qualifying offer is a reasonable alternative to taking the two year deal.
If he wants to decide where to play then he can do that in 2 years instead of 1 year.
Nobody on the face of the planet can tell me it’s worth sacrificing almost $40 million to have it 1 year earlier.
Again, he’s 22 years old he has his whole career ahead of him. To me this is just a mind blowing discussion and I really don’t get it.
For the love of God, sign the two-year deal, play your ass off, and you’re an unrestricted free agent in two years and you can go wherever you want.
It’s the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind.