Jonathan Kuminga‘s restricted free agent negotiations with the Warriors continue to be one of the top lingering storylines of the NBA offseason. Following up on recent reports indicating that Kuminga has turned down a two-year, $45MM offer with a team option on the second year, Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) notes that the team’s request for the forward to waive his implicit no-trade clause is part of the holdup.
A player who re-signs with his previous team on a one-year contract or a two-year deal with a second-year option gets the right to veto trades for the rest of the season, but that right can be waived as part of the contract agreement. Jaxson Hayes, Taurean Prince, and Jeff Green are among several players who have waived their veto rights when re-signing with their respective teams this summer.
A player in that position who consents to a trade – either by waiving his veto rights when he signs or by eventually approving an in-season trade – would lose any form of Bird rights as part of the deal and would have Non-Bird rights at the end of the season.
Aside from the contract negotiations, Stein writes that while Kuminga has returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he is still not expected to play in FIBA’s AfroBasket tournament this summer. No official decision has been announced yet, but it’s unlikely that Kuminga would suit up for the Congolese team if his contract situation remains unresolved.
Here’s more from Stein:
- Much has been made about Luka Doncic‘s three-year max extension with the Lakers and what it means for him and the team’s future, but Stein points out an important detail regarding the timeline of the deal. The contract would allow Doncic to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028 when he has more than eight years of NBA service and four seasons with his current team, which means he would be eligible for a no-trade clause if he were to wait until ’28 free agency to sign a new contract with the Lakers. Stein writes that while Doncic will have technically played three-and-a-half years with the Lakers, he’d still meet the no-trade criteria because he would have finished four seasons with the Lakers, even if he started the first one in Dallas.
- While the offseason buyout market has been particularly active this offseason, Stein cautions fans not to expect Bulls center Nikola Vucevic to join the likes of Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard this summer. He writes that unless a trade materializes in the next couple of months, Vucevic will very likely begin next season in Chicago. There has been speculation that the veteran big man could be a prime mid-season buyout candidate if no deal occurs by February’s trade deadline.
- Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox became eligible on Sunday for a three- or four-year extension that would look like the one Doncic signed in L.A. However, Stein notes that with the rise of reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and the addition of Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick, there are questions league-wide about whether such a max deal is an automatic decision for San Antonio.
- Kevin Love is actively exploring landing spots in the case of a potential buyout from the Jazz after landing in Utah as a part of the Heat’s trade for Norman Powell, though Stein doesn’t name any possible suitors.
If the Warriors want to be good faith in negotiations they need to understand that asking him to give up his Bird rights is too much with everything else he’s already going to be risking and sacrificing. Negotiations are not about getting 100% of what you want and giving 0% of what the other side wants.
they both should meet half way. warriors just don’t want to have a trade and then Kuminga agent wants a raise and years added to OK the trade. Should just allow him to add 5 teams he will not be traded too while making his 2nd optional year a non-guarnantee where he gets a little amount if they don’t take the option year.
None of that’s gonna happen, arc89. To sign with the Warriors, he’d already me making the compromise of lowering his market value under Kerr. (Kerr has already said that JK he signs with the Warriors, he can’t be a starter or key contributor.)
He’s only going to sign with the Warriors if he can control where he goes after.
the next season for a coach that will lower his market value.
JK .wants to control where he plays next. If he does another year with Kerr,
Way his agent is Kuminga would ask for a new extension for more money if he waived his no trade clause. No team is going to trade for him unless they feel he can be a starter.
The one thing the warriors could do is make the 2nd year a non-guarantee year where only partial is solid money and the rest comes official on July1st.
> No team is going to trade for him unless they feel
> he can be a starter.
Nobody can know that in advance. IMO, most likely trade is driven by GSW, not another team, using Kuminga’s ~$25M for salary matching. They could trade him anywhere without a no-trade clause including a very good team that wants to use him as a 6th man.
The time for negotiations is long gone. Why do all of you still thing they are bargaining. Kuminga wants out. It’s over ……. He isn’t giving anything cause he is thru negotiating. Only the Warriors have to agree to the package that comes back. Kuminga wants to get paid. For the money he wants. It means he will start or he will be groomed to start. The only drama now is by Warriors.
Al, you’re missing the facts. Take a minute to understand to save thousands more keystrokes.
> The time for negotiations is long gone.
> Why do all of you still think they are bargaining.
The two sides ARE still negotiating They reportedly talked on Thursday. Kuminga wants, one, more than $25M/yr and, two, control of where he is traded for the next 2 years. The Warriors haven’t budged.
> Kuminga wants out.
Yes, AND he also wants to get paid. If he signs the QO, he’s the Warriors property for the next year, and for only $8M.
So, there seem to be only 2 possibilities:
1) GSW caves, paying JK more money, and leaving trade veto in place for 2nd year. Starting in 6 months, GSW and JK can co-operatively find a trade.
2) GSW doesn’t cave, JK signs $8M QO, plays for GSW until, at least, December, and, eventually, gets traded for very little.
Kuminga wants out what will happen he will take the QO and the warriors will end up trading him to a team that he wants to be on. He will then have a deal in place giving him a lot more money.
Again you are clueless. Cause no one Knows what he wants. You think you are the one with the story. The connection to him and his agent lol. I said this at playoffs. And it hasn’t changed. You are still here talking about 20-30 mill.
The negotiations are OVER. What part of that don’t you understand. The ONLY issue is the money. And that is controlled by Warriors as always. They want to low ball him cause they need cap room for other signings. Do you UNDERSTAND that …….
Cause if Suns or Kings are close to 25 mill. It means there is a negotiation there for assets. We don’t know what they ask for. You actually believe if there was a real offer. The Warriors wouldn’t say well if you add Dunn or a #1 pick we can do this.
Do you understand that.
So it means the Warriors are the ones like always who don’t care about Kuminga. Cause NOW they know he is GONE. Has nothing to do with Kuminga.
Its all about Warriors and their cap space at this time ——- You getting this. All Warriors fans ——
Even if someone gave them a great offer and was willing to sign him at 30 mill. Warriors wouldn’t do it cause they go to cap purgatory. Do you understand.
Why do you think they are stuck at 45 mill two yrs.
So all this means. Is Kuminga wants 25 mill or more. He is not negotiating. It doesn’t matter where he goes. Cause any team that offers that. Want’s Kuminga as a starter at some point. You understand that. So Warriors have till Oct 1st to weigh the offers no matter how much money he gets. To see the package for them is worth it. Cause then they will have to cut salary. If money is 25 mill or more.In order to sign the other players they want like Horford.
Now they are pressed for time. Cause will they go to season on QO with Kuminga. Cause then they WILL be ABLE to sign the FAs they want with no problem . You getting this lol.. but now you will only be able to trade him for the 8 mill.
So this is ALL on Warriors. Do you understand this.
Its has always been a situation wherein GSW does or does not cave, thanks Captain!
Why do we keep going round and round with this. Name one thing he is elite at other than athleticism? Shaky jumpshot, okay rebounder, ok defender, Shakey play making. So why does he think he should get 30 million a year. If Sacramento (probably the worst ran sports franchise in America) wants to pay him to start with DeMar DeRozan ( who is a proven non winner) over priced Zach Levine and I will say Murray is nice. That make him a 4th opinion. O wait u forgot about sabonis so he actually a 5th option. And we’re expecting him to play better.
I am just waiting for what he is great at. We’re i am sitting 2 years 35 million is about his value. I think these players have gotten spoiled and for a long time restricted rookies were getting overpriced deals before they showed what they could do.
Buckets.., my thoughts exactly. Did you copy and paste my message from last year ? lol.
Just kidding, yes I am seeing what you’re seeing. What does the kid bring to the table?
His game is lacking refined skill and does everyone think selfishness just manifests when it comes to contract time?
I wonder if this attitude shows a little bit at practice or in the locker room at times too?
Or we can just blame his agent for this mess but I don’t think so. He wants what he wants and he’s put his foot down.
Yes, it is his right to ask for what he wants and here we are.
8 million bucks buddy.., that’s what you’re looking at.
@Gary if this issue with Kuminga was an isolated incident you’d have a better argument, but there is a pattern of bad behavior with this Warriors franchise. They have not developed any players with any level of consistency really in Kerr’s entire time as head coach. Curry and Green made their development strides under Jackson. How is it that Kerr’s been coach and the only guy to get consistently better in all that time is Kevon Looney?
This had nothing to do with how high the draft picks are or if they are in contention or not. Notice how Indiana, San Antonio, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, OKC all manage to keep developing young talented players into the best versions of themselves? And with OKC you can even eliminate the top 3 guys from consideration I’m talking about guys like Isaiah Joe.
Meanwhile, in San Fran it looked like Poole was becoming something. Then Draymond punched him and did Kerr have Poole’s back? No. They were most upset at the person leaking the vid not Draymond. They chose to keep and coddled Draymond not Poole. It speaks to a team culture where the front office and coaching staff aren’t teachers and don’t help young players. So with over a decade of history to look at, yes, the Warriors are in the wrong here.
Black ace I wouldn’t argue against what you’ve written here and I think most agree with you but I think that the issue is Bob Myers drafting skill or lack thereof.
His pics have been crappy that’s how I look at it. You can go down the list and like eight out of 10 are no longer in the NBA.
Sure they’ve been late first rounders and a ton of second rounders but you think a few more would stick?
But yes, I would say overall you are correct and I’m just providing a different angle and opinion.
Negotiating was for last year. You still haven’t grasped where Warriors are with a QO. They don’t care about the Warriors. Just like the Warriors haven’t cared about him for the last two yrs. Its all about the small print now.
“Just like the Warriors haven’t cared about him the last 2 years.”
Al you’re wrong.
You make a definitive statement like that and it’s just flat out wrong.
You’re looking at the surface and the headlines and this contract negotiation stuff which is messy.
It’s real messy, but to say the Warriors don’t care about a player is an absolute lie.
You can argue about it you can spit and moan and cry, but you’re wrong
They are a great franchise and ask any player if they are taken care of.
It’s statements like that Al that ruffle the feathers of warriors fans who know better. You come rolling in and state falsehoods as fact.
Your comments thus lack integrity when you bounce in and out of warriors articles with lies.
That’s just Face value and what it is Al.
Does anyone think that maybe some teams are just waiting for him to be given that QO which means its a whole lot easier matching payroll with $8.9 million than a $25 million deal to fit under the cap. That would open up alot more teams that can make trade offers for him. Even a 1 year deal knowing they can offer him an extension once he is traded to their team. Warriors could get a much better draft pick for Kuminga and a young player that fits their system.
He can’t give up his Bird rights. Cause that will affect his next contract. So it’s beyond ridiculous they would ask for that. What Warriors want is control of trade. They will just have to live with him agreeing to team traded to. Not really a big deal imo.
I agree AL only on the Bird rights part. That is ridiculous. He needs that for a team to be able to resign him. So the warriors are wrong. However he is not worth 30 million. He doesn’t have one elite skill other than athleticism. So I’m not sure why he thinks he gets 90-150 when Jalen suggs is a lot better. The man played 5k minutes and really has shown anything. I really don’t know if a change of scenery is going to help if his attitude doesn’t change. He is a role player at this point and needs to work on his jump shot and playing with out the ball
For all the Loco Luka Clan ——
His defense has always been an issue. He has just been allowed to fix it himself. Which hasn’t worked yet. And since most of you don’t understand what defense means in the NBA. No one holds him accountable for it. The OneWay Wonder ….
His first coach in NBA ————
“ However, it’s important to remember that Carlisle also recognized and praised Doncic’s exceptional offensive talent. He understood that Doncic is a unique player with incredible offensive prowess and was willing to allow him the freedom to showcase his creativity, according to ESPN. The challenge was likely about balancing Doncic’s offensive brilliance with the team’s overall defensive needs, according to Sports Illustrated.”
link to google.com
Spurs shouldn’t be in a rush just yet to trade Fox. Need vets and he can play for real. Keep developing these young guys, stay patient. See what you’ve got, what you like and what weaknesses to fix in a few seasons time. Spurs are trending upwards regardless. Low key great pick ups in Luke and Kelly for overall team chemistry and depth. When the time is right Vessell and Barnes would be moved or off the books. Keep Fox, we aren’t sure Castle and Harper jr a gun point guards at this point. Castle seems a 2 who can be entrusted for ball handling duties part time. Fox pic game with Wemby, Kornet and Kelly popping for three’s will be quite formidable.
Castle doesn’t really project as a point guard. He looks more like a young Jordan Clarkson with defensive upside. I’m confident Harper can handle point guard duties, and if that’s the case, Fox would fit well as a shooting guard, especially since we know Harper can defend.
Alternatively, they could roll with Fox at point guard, Vassell at shooting guard, and Harper at small forward, with Castle coming off the bench as the sixth man. Harper has the size to play the three, can act as a secondary creator alongside Fox, and fill in at point guard when Fox rests.
Agree.
Fox under his agent Paul pushed for a trade, which allowed SA to get him rather cheap. He did it assuming that he gets his max extension. And also wanting to jump onto the Wemby train early, ofc. But the max extension was a big part of it. And taking discounts wasn’t in the plans, clearly.
It will be interesting how SA handle it.
Going into the summer, I was mostly curious about 3 things:
1) How will SA handle Fox’s extension given their lottery luck.
2) How much will Mathurin sign for. Or maybe he will even go into his 4th year without a contract. Similarities with Kuminga are striking: a high lottery pick, was not established as a starter, does not really fit Indiana’s very distinct style and slows them down, had a very marginal role in many playoff games. But has also shown a lot of upside, had big stretches and big playoff performances. Both teams they are with are looking for bargain contracts and are not ready to splash on high upside they don’t know what to do with. GS because Curry is making almost 40% of the cap, Indiana because they’re cheap.
3) RFAs, of course. We had 10 this summer, by far the biggest and most talented group ever from that super strong 2021 class. 6 have signed already, 4 remain and have been the single biggest factor driving engagement on this website during the off-season, lol.
Imo they have to sign Fox. Harper won’t be ready for 3-4 yrs. So they have time to feel it out. Fox is a proven commodity. Harper hasn’t done anything yet. Spurs just have to develop him right. Spurs are a young tran. Having a vet lead guard is a important piece for them.!
I still can’t believe Spurs didn’t trade for Giannis. I thought that was more a sure thing than KD to Rockets.
They have to sign him for sure. The question is for how much and how long.
Giannis was never available, so how could the Spurs trade for him?
It’s not just Kuminga, its Thomas, Giddey and Quickley too. All 4 are equal in this, but for some reason Kuminga is taking the blame by the media.
Ummm, pretty sure that the 3 aforementioned has shown a lot more than Kuminga. Sure, all 3 have their warts (Thomass and his lack of D, Giddey and his questionable shooting, Quickley and his injuries), but tbh, I would rather have any of those 3 over Kuminga. I keep waiting for him to show why he’s valued, but he seems more like a bench player to me than a guy to build around.
coloredpaper.., ditto !!!
Davey obviously is not a Warrior fan, oh wait.
Second sentence should read, “turned down,” not, “turned.”
Has Stein provided any reason for why the Bulls want to dump Vuc?
He said the opposite. He said he might be a buyout candidate if he doesn’t get moved at the deadline. Although Chicago is stupid and will likely keep him to push for the 9th seed or something equally ridiculous.
Love should go to Clippers. Get all the old guys over there. Strength in numbers.
No team should sign Love. He’s a no defense washout.
Rebounding is part of defense . And he is one of best of his generation. Any contender can use him 10-15 mins. Especially in playoffs.
I have a feeling Fox is going to be one of those players who is going to get traded every couple of seasons. He will get you 20 points a game but it’s going to be on a lot of bad and mediocre teams.
Kerr is the problem.
Is Kerr not doing a good job in these contract negotiations with the agent?
Gary, It’s inarguably true that Kerr has made himself central to the contract negotiation by announcing after the season that there was no way for Kuminga to be a starter or key contributor.
It was a massive f*** up by Kerr.
Lol.
I’m going to disagree with you, Ari.
I guess we’ll never know until JK changes teams and we’ll see how he does in say three years. Might be able to make the proper judgment on him and his game at that time?
Gary, I know that you’re a reasonable person, so I have to believe you’re missing on the facts.
Disagree with what exactly? Because it’s all on the public record. Many in the basketball world and national media have commented on it. Everybody has said the obvious: Kerr’s statements are a disincentive to Kuminga re-signing.
JK has ALREADY commented on the statements in an interview, which his agent asked for, in The Athletic. He said he wouldn’t play for somebody that isn’t going to give him a chance.
The following can’t be made with the certainty of the above, but I believe Kerr has let his ego get the better of him.
The one thing you can ask for from a coach is to be honest with you.
If he’s saying that JK won’t play for him because he doesn’t contribute anything to winning, and he’s coming out and saying that?
Kudos to Steve Kerr !!
How is that a “massive fail” by Kerr?
At least that’s how I would take it as a player. Be honest about my role and if there isn’t a role for me, let me know so I can get out of here.
> If he’s saying that JK won’t play for him because he
> doesn’t contribute anything to winning, and he’s coming
> out and saying that? … Kudos to Steve Kerr !!
You miss the point, which is that Kerr is that hurting the team by preventing them from getting the most from Kuminga in return, which requires signing Kuminga first. GSW currently can’t sign any other player , and, worse they can’t use Kuminga’s value to obtain another player. Kerr has contributed to, if not being entirely responsible for, that situation.
Dunleavey wanted to sign Kuminga shortly after the season ended (and then does the rest of the transactions ), and publicly expressed the possibility that Kuminga would still be traded by mid-season. Nobody, including Kuminga, had a problem with that. Then Kerr decided to trash him in the national media.
Then, JK and his agent broke with their plan to stay silent until a deal was done, and asked for an interview with The Athletic where Kuminga said he wasn’t going to play for anybody that didn’t believe in him.
Dunleavey felt obligated to clean it up after Kerr to recruit Kuminga. As did Draymond. If Kerr was thinking about the team first (instead of himself), he would have kept his mouth shut.
I disagree 100% Ari.
Do you want Kerr to lie or keep his mouth shut?
I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.
The GM or the owner could make a promise to the player and then the coach keeps his mouth shut about his intentions?
That’s bad for business.
That’s bad for life and bad practice.
Sorry ari, I love you brother, but I just disagree.
Honesty all the way every time and let the chips fall where they may.
> Do you want Kerr to lie or keep his mouth shut?
It had zero to do with honesty and everything to do with ego, which Kerr placed above the organization and the players on the team.
Kerr broadcasted it because he was butt-hurt by all the criticism in the national media. Kerr’s explicit reference to the “38 minutes” criticism of Legler’s made that obvious. The intimation that Kerr cared more about being right than winning playoff game couln’t stand.
Kerr knew he would make Dunleavey’s job to trade Kuminga harder. And Kerr knew that by devaluing Kuminga, less assets would return when Kuminga was traded. Kerr had no business inserting himself, but his ego prevailed.
Fair enough ari. You make a lot of excellent points as usual.
And don’t think this is because I like Steve Kerr. I actually don’t lol.
I respect him as a man and a coach and his communication skills and the way he’s navigated his career in the NBA as a player, manager, announcer and coach.
I think all those things are incredible accomplishments !! Very well done and I applaud him for his ability to succeed on so many different levels.
But I really don’t “like” the guy because I don’t agree with his political positions.
I think he’s got a screw loose when listening to many of his public political statements.
So I’m not defending the dude because I like him.
I’m defending him because he’s handling the JK situation as a professional.
He’s being honest about JK potential future role with the Warriors as long as he is coach.
Gary, over a long tenure, coaches age and fatigue takes hold. Kerr was a great fit in the first 8 years with GSW. Since then, he’s made some egregious mistakes — not disciplining Draymond, going back on his word with young players, committing to over-the-hill veterans, etc.
The Kerr situation is strikingly similar to Bellichik’s. In the last few years, he stopped the intensive communication with both players and management as he had done earlier in his career. And, as a football mind, he stopped evolving.
OK, sure this last comment is true. No problem at all.
Rarely does a coach go longer than five years in effectiveness in any sport.
And yes, I agree, Kerr has made a lot of mistakes. No problem. Agreed.
So Kuminga went home but he’s not going to play in FIBA’s AfroBasket tournament this summer?
Stein has “one source”, I guess we’ll see.