Appearing on the latest Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), agent Aaron Turner said accepting the $8MM qualifying offer is a realistic option for restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga unless the Warriors‘ offers improve, relays Anthony Slater of ESPN.
“There’s a lot of upside,” Turner told the hosts. “He wants to pick where he wants to go. So the QO is real for sure.”
As Slater reported on Monday, Golden State recently engaged in another negotiating session with Kuminga and Turner, submitting its latest offer of $75.2MM over three years with a team option for the final season. That would give him two fully guaranteed seasons at a total of $48.3MM.
Earlier in the summer, the team offered a two-year, $45MM contract that contains a team option in the second season. The only offer without a team option limits his salary to $54MM over three years, an average of $18MM per season.
Kuminga has refused to accept any of those scenarios, but Turner said this week that he would be agreeable to the latest offer if the Warriors replace the team option with a player option. The team has refused to put a player option on the table, which is why Kuminga finds the QO so appealing. Although he would be playing for far below his market value for one season, Kuminga would become unrestricted next summer and would have the power to choose his next team.
“If (the Warriors) want to win now, if you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly who is a big part of this team, we believe, moving forward, you give him the player option,” Turner said on the podcast. “You do lose a little of that trade value (giving that up). But if it’s about the here and now, you give him that. You don’t get a perfect deal, but you get a pretty good deal and he gets to feel respected about what he gets and we all move on and worry about winning, helping Steph (Curry).”
The Warriors’ offseason has been on hold while they work toward a solution with Kuminga. They reportedly have deals lined up with free agents Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II, but those can’t be finalized because using any portion of the mid-level exception would hard-cap the Warriors at the second apron. That creates the risk that another team could open enough cap room to give Kuminga an offer that Golden State wouldn’t be able to match.
“If JK wants to take (the qualifying offer), it does have upside, right?” Turner said. “We’ve talked about that. You’re not getting traded. You’re going to have unrestricted free agency (next summer). People are going to say, ‘Well, Aaron, there’s not going to be 10 or 12 teams (with cap space).’ Fine, there’ll be six teams with cap space for the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market. So there’s a lot of upside.”
The Suns and Kings both expressed interest in Kuminga this summer before Golden State shut down sign-and-trade talks. Sacramento was reportedly offering a contract worth $63-66MM over three years, while Phoenix was willing to pay him between $80-88MM over four seasons. However, neither team made a trade offer that enticed the Warriors.
“He’s gotten a chance to hear from other teams,” Turner said. “You know, Sacramento, he’s spent some time with them, got to meet (general manager) Scott Perry, (head coach) Doug Christie, the Suns and what they’ve offered him. There’s been other teams, too, maybe planting seeds for (2026 or 2027). But they’re saying, ‘Hey, we want you to be you. We don’t want you to change anything. We want to put the ball in your hands. We want to give you a huge opportunity to play.'”
Turner added that Kuminga isn’t opposed to staying with the Warriors, but that would mean putting his personal ambitions aside, and Turner believes his client should be financially compensated for that decision. He called Golden State “as first-class as you get,” but pointed out that other teams would be giving Kuminga a chance to play full-time starter’s minutes, while staying put means he would be coming off the bench and battling for playing time with Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Horford.
“No guarantees he starts any games,” Turner said. “He may, but we don’t know. Finishing games, night to night, who knows? It depends if (coach Steve Kerr) has a combination he likes and it’s working. Maybe he sticks with it. Maybe he doesn’t. You’re going to have to not have the ball as much. You’re going to have to stay away from developing certain parts of your game, or wanting to lean into certain parts of your game, especially shooting any type of mid-range jump shots, which is something JK does work on. But in the Golden State offense and the role he’s in, that’s not going to be a big shot that he’s really going to be able to take much.”
With media day just 10 days away, there’s a growing urgency on both sides to get the matter resolved. Turner indicated that Kuminga would take the two-year offer if he’s allowed to keep an inherent no-trade clause that would come with it, but the team hasn’t budged on that point. He added that Kuminga would want to be compensated for accepting a team option — something in the neighborhood of $30MM per year.
“Two years from now, if you want to keep him, you’ll have his Bird rights (even if you give him a player option),” Turner said. “You treat him good and you show him the plan, then maybe you keep him. (The player option contract) is not perfect, but I don’t think anybody can get everything they really want.
“If you ask JK, he wants Jalen Green‘s deal. He’s not getting that. He wants Jalen Johnson‘s deal. You’re not getting that. If the Warriors, we feel like, pick the front end (of the contract), if that number needs to be lower to stay under a second apron, (it’s a) player option. Or if it’s about really controlling the back end of the deal, move the number up, shake your roster up and you can have a team option. Or, the hybrid model, let him keep his no-trade clause.”
All Turner’s attempt to negotiate in the media will accomplish is angering the GSW FO. I doubt the teams that will actually want him as a UFA are thinking he’s actually “the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market”. And there’s no way they offer $30 mil/yr to get the team option.
That strategy is a big mistake IMO – My guess is that GSW calls his bluff and he’s going to have to prove he’s dumb enough to take the QO and lose his Bird rights (having to start over with a new team).
Confused. If he accepts the QO it means he can’t get traded without agreeing to it first right? And the only way his salary gets limited next year is if he does except a trade right? Whatever percent of the 8 mil QO?
Yes, he has a NTC if he takes the QO.
Then he gets whatever teams offer as a UFA, and what his market will be at that point will at least somewhat depend on what happens this season and how many teams with cap space at $25-ish mil still want him a year from now.
Ok so you’re saying he’s stupid if he takes the QO because that means what?
It means losing at least $15 mil this season and as much as $40 mil worst case, and losing his bird rights which will lower his potential future earnings.
@NBAisOK,
You’re obviously very smart. In any other context, if you were asked to explain two alternative financial paths, I’m certain that you wouldn’t give an answer that considered so few factors or used a two-year horizon
For my part, as somebody that faces similar choices every day professionally, I’d say there is a strong, probably stronger, case for going the QO route in Kuminga’s case. But, I wouldn’t suggest to anybody that this is an obvious choice. Cheers,
Riiiight but he and his agent have said it’s less about the money and more about A.) Having a starting spot on a roster and B.) Having a say in his future and not being shipped to the Wizards or wherever else GS can find a deal that exclusively benefits them and doesn’t benefit him at all.
If your biggest gripe with this situation is that Kuminga isn’t being smart by taking the money, it honestly says a lot about your outlook beyond the court.
Let the kid make the decision he wants to make. It’s not stupid to believe in yourself.
Na he is playing with fire. As someone who played pro ball he doesn’t have the skill or reputation and be pulling this kind of stunt. The owner will black ball him by low-balling him. You can’t let one of the soldiers, especially a soldier who is equivalent of a private or a specialist. Run this type of game on you. If he gets away with it other players will do this. He is not worth more than 75 million. He hasn’t proven that he actually has an NBA position. He’s a small forward that needs to play PF. But can’t rebound like a power forward or defend like one.
The players do the same exact thing too. You do see anyone signing with Sacramento right. Unless it’s just for money.
Warriors are at fault too for not negotiating in good faith. 2 yrs $40, 2 for $45m with team option and leaking them to public was all slap in the face. Both FO and Kuminga know the real negotiation is the next 10 days. I cant fault Kuminga for wanting to be treated fairly.
I don’t necessarily agree, since Kuminga’s agent asking for 5 yrs $30 mil was equally “not in good faith”.
The current offer meets in the middle and matches fellow RFA Giddey’s number, and Giddey is a WAY more productive player in every stat.
Kuminga wants to be the center of attention. Giddey does the things that the Warriors wish Kuminga would do.
Yeah that’s why they waited till now to sign Giddey. Bulls probably trading Giddey y next year.
@KnickAl
Giddey’s underpaid substantially for his production. There’s zero chance the Bulls trade him, he’s a 23 yo 6’8″ PG that shoots efficiently and can rebound.
Yes, $75m is respectable. Kuminga will not sign QO.
If he does, it will be the biggest mistake by a player financially since Schroder.
It’s a gamble either way. Taking the QO is losing like 17 million or so for this year but hopefully freeing himself up to play wherever he wants. It’s money he’ll never get back whatever he gets in FA and if he suffers a serious injury who knows what will happen? It might make him more tentative a player also and affect his future earnings. Either way it’s in his court and here’s hoping he chooses right.
AT Davey….all BS, just like the fake save face Kuminga offers. Warriors are done. Enjoy the rebuild. Or, luka is in L.A, lol.
@NBA is OK Schroder said no to 4/84 because he wanted 4/100, that situation was nothing like this. Kuminga is way younger than Schroder was at that time.
“I don’t necessarily agree, since Kuminga’s agent asking for 5 yrs $30 mil was equally “not in good faith”.”
But they’ve never done that his agent says.
Na he is trying to negotiate when he has no leverage. Teams don’t carry 25 million in cap space. The NBA has fixed the system so players will stay with their teams if they want more than $20 million a year. In 5 years we will look back and call him stupid for not talking the money.
Buying buckets, I called it a dumb decision for taking the QO 3 weeks ago and three months ago lol.
It’s not a smart move and I think it’s a bluff. So many think he will take it and I say if he does, it’s bad advice.
If he takes the money, he’ll be a free agent in two years.., what’s wrong with that?
But we go around in circles and people make the valid points of “it’s more than the money,” etc.
So there’s good people on both sides of this equation and we’ll see how it turns out in a few days.
Bottom line in my opinion.., you have to take the money that’s on the table now.
You can worry about happiness later if you’re 22. Heck you’ll be retired at 35 and have the rest of your life for happiness. Get that bag now and as much as you can.
A bird in the hand is worth five in the bush in my opinion lol.
Lol. No. Kumingas strategy is correct
The ones butchering this are the trash warriors FO.
@OnlineFeatures unless this was all a ruse all along by them all along and they always were going to pay JK 3/75+PO?
Angering? What makes you say that? Lacob has never been “angered” by anything in his NBA life. Weird choice of word. Also: it doesn’t matter. Turner is doing great work and all he is doing is angering online NBA commenters, who don’t matter.
Davey, do you think that you matter?
Accepting the QO seems like the only way out. W’s get one more season and then it’s massive rebuild city.
This is a good point. QO means even the trio can be traded at the deadline.
the warriors won without Kuminga and they will win once he is gone. Don’t forget it was Wiggins that help them win last championship and Kuminga wants more money than Wiggins. If they could the warriors would trade Kuminga for Wiggins in a heart beat
lol. Warriors aren’t winning with or without him. Time is up and they are done. Just a middle of the pack team at this point.
The trio? Who else do you want traded?
I don’t see why GSW would trade him on the QO with the return being a player matching $8 mil in salary.
Massive rebuild? Kuminga wasn’t the most productive player.
It’s a complete rebuild real soon.
Warriors as currently constructed and projected at best would be a playoff at worst play in contender. Nobody has them winning a chip anytime soon. Enjoy the game while Curry is still there because its back to the basement once he retires.
Warriors had bad ownership before this guy. Wouldn’t spend money and had his hands on the team too often, etc.
So when Curry retires, returning to basement dwellers will happen for a couple of years, but not very long.
We’re in the last stages of negotiating/posturing, etc. Soon we’ll find out if either side is willing to compromise and make a deal.
Heat wanted Kuminga instead of Wiggins in the Butler trade. Wiggins was one of my favorite player but he lacks motivation. I wasnt all too happy with kuminga’s play last yr too. There was a point when he just gave up on the team and was completely checked out mentally. At the same time warriors didnt develop him properly the last 4 yrs. Kerr is an amazing coach but too much “tough love” with Kuminga. Pretty sure he wiuld have wanted differently if it was Nick Kerr.
It had to be Wiggins to make the money work. It is strange how not 1 team is willing to give up a 1st round pick for Kuminga. Just shows they do not feel he is a plyer to build a team around.
It’s not that strange, it’s because only the Nets have the cap space and they signed Porter Jr. The rest of the teams are on apron restrictions if the were to try to sign him.
Same reason warriors can’t give Kuminga more money they are on a apron restriction too.
@arc89,
That’s not true, because they have his Bird rights they could give him a max extension without the apron restrictions being affected. Right now they’re still $25 mil below both aprons.
Are you sure about that? Next year they would be over the apron.
Turner may be the worst agent in all of the NBA. Kuminga wants to pick which team he plays for comes out as if he think a playoff contender wants him. None of those teams even made an offer. Its like his agent thinks he is entitled to a fat contract and a starting job. Let him have his QO and then he gets traded later in the year to a bad team that wants to start him.
Brother he wants to play for Sacramento lol. Not exactly a contender
He might get his chance when Kings start a rebuild there will be lots of starting minutes available.
It’s a mess that Warriors had part in unfortunately.
Lacob fault for not staying out of it and forcing the last 2 GMs to keep Kuminga. They should have traded him last year. No teams is going to give the warriors anything of value for him. So shut it down and just a QO.
> Lacob fault for not staying out of it and forcing the
> last 2 GMs to keep Kuminga.
WOT?
Turner is simply doing what Kuminga wants him to do. It is clear that Kuminga’s priority is to get to another team of his choosing as soon as possible. If he is willing to take the injury risk, the QO is the quickest way to get what he wants.
i doubt it is what Kuminga wants. Kuminga is 21 so he knows about nothing on business side of things. He didn’t even go to college. Kuminga is just doing what his agent is telling him to do. His agent even told him to stay away from the warriors and he did.
Kuminga wants out unless he gets overpaid to stay. He has made that clear to anyone who is paying attention. He has seen the differences in how the Josh Giddey and Cam Thomas situations resolved. He doesn’t need to be a business expert to evaluate his situation and what he ultimately wants for himself. And just because he didn’t go to college doesn’t mean jack. Some of the dumbest dumf8cks I have ever met went to college.
Everything you said I agree with he either wants to be overpaid or leave. He doesn’t deserve a contract that only favors him. I say let him take the QO and play out the season. He wants to leave he can at the end of the season unless a team that he likes makes a reasonable offer for him.
@Graymond
That’s not exactly true. The QO will almost guarantee he’s a warrior for the whole season, if he takes the 2+1 it’s likely he can be traded by the in season deadline.
Watch him only get MLE offers next year lol
It’s honestly interesting to see his agent basically airing everything out in the media to negotiate for his player. Most usually leak news, etc. If JK gets what he wants, I wonder if you’ll start seeing other agents follow suit and jump on podcasts or shows lol
Kuminga agent got to be the worse ever. He turned down a good $25 million a year deal last off season demanding a max extension. Now he wishes they took that deal. They thing about a no trade clause makes no sense since if a team trades for Kuminga they are going to play him as a starter. The no trade clause is just a way to get more money.
Yeah … was looking to see who else Turner represented out of curiosity and now it all makes sense. JK will prob be his largest paycheck if he can secure a good deal.
He is like a gambler and bluffed too much and lost so now all he can do is try to make up for his loses. Being Kuminga is his only client he needs a big deal to bring in more clients.
Counting eggs before they hatch is hilarious. So far, JK has done no damage to himself? If HE is saying that he’s willing to take a pay cut this season, then thats not an L on HIM. Its an L on the Warriors.
I cannot comprehend how you are still 2 months behind on the only topic you guys care about
Did Kuminga LAST year tunr down a contract worth over $100 million? YES HE DID.
November 2024: The Athletic’s Anthony Slater reported that Kuminga was aiming for a deal averaging $35 million annually, while the Warriors were not willing to go above $30 million.
@arc89
Slater later recanted that story.
From what I heard at the time warriors offered $25 a year and Kuminga wanted $30.
I really don’t understand why the Warriors are so against making it a player option when it would save them a lot of money. 2 years/$45 is a great value for the team. If he leaves after that so be it.
Harder to trade. Just make the 3rd year a mutual option. Both would need to sign off on it. If the option is player option then Kuminga will just be a free agent if he is that great but if its a down year he still gets paid. Mutual option works for both.
Because they’re in win-now mode and he’s not ready to contribute compared to players they might get, and the player option hurts his trade value.
That’s exactly why Lacob will not allow QO. If Kuminga signs QO, Warriors could opt to completely change direction and trade trio for rebuild.
Curry will neevr be traded.
The Warriors should not be interested in “saving money” – what kind of pathetic thing is this to even come up with? “Oh yeah the richest team should save some money on players” you sound stupid.
This is why you want a player like this on the first train out of town. There’s no room for this on an organization with playoff aspirations…
“Kuminga isn’t opposed to staying with the Warriors, but that would mean putting his personal ambitions aside…. and Turner believes his client should be financially compensated for that decision.”
From the player’s perspective, it’s all good. Go get yours. Absolutely.
From the team perspective, there’s just no way.
Everyone blames Kerr for not playing him, but do you really think that this mindset has suddenly popped up right now? Just suddenly he has personal ambitions ahead of team ambitions?
Ridiculous.
Its also why you don’t give him a player’s option or a no trade clause. The player option means he gets paid if he has a bad year but if he has a good year he is out of here on the free agent market. Its insurance that ONLY helps him. No trade caluse means he can hold up a trade like Butler did to get an extension with lots more money. No to any of that.
What about Nick Kerr who is now an assistant coach? Is that ol for a team with playoff aspiration? Kerr has changed from when he first started coaching Warriors. I mean how in the world was he a head coach for Santa Cruz?
As for Kuminga, I wasnt totaly happy with his play last yr but je has every right to seek personal ambitions after being binded to a 4 yr rookie contract. It was rediculous for Kerr to bench him after only 2 gms as a starter to start the season last yr. Even in those 2 gms, he was substituted after 5-6 minutes.
Kerr will retire in 2 years or even next year. He already said he probably retire when Curry retires. I do think the warriors do need a change in head coaches. Too many of his ex asst coaches are now on rival teams and know the system too well so its easier fro them to beat the warriors.
Nick Kerr led the development of Quinten Post.
Kuminga wants to be the central focus of the offense. You can’t be selfish in the Warriors offense.
Let Nick get a job elsewhere! What a stupid distraction for a 1st class organization and a Head Coach who supposedly advocate for fairmess and equality.
After Kuminga was bemched after 2 gms, he was literally the last player off the bench in the 2nd unit. It would have been one thing if he was the first player off the bench. Kerr totally messed with his confidence and treated him like a rookie instead of a 4th yr player in FA yr. Kerr took it too far, He was “personal” with Kumimga. His job is to get the best out of his players including Kuminga and not take things “personal”. If they dont click, Warriors should have pulled the trade and not play this silly game. Kuminga is also to blame but Warriors played a major part in creating this mess.
Monte Poole, who has been covering the Warriors practically daily for 40 years, said that Kuminga looked like he was trying to justify his contract demands he made last October. I’m sure Kerr could see that.
Kuminga should have signed early and spent the summer working out with Butler.
He didnt even take that many shots. He was more gun shy especially around Curry and Dray.
Benching after ONLY 2 games was a total BS. Why even start him then to start the season? What for?? Then for the following dozen gms, he was the last player off the bench. HOW do you go from starter to last player off the bench in 2 games after supposedly being offered $100m+ contract?
Mind boggling and heart breaking! Warriors have NOTHING to show for that THREE 1st round pick assets. :(
I put some blame on Lacob for this. Lacob wants to prove he was correct in making them draft Kuminga so he has turned down trades for Kuminga. I do have a beef with Kerr after he tore into Kuminga for not passing the ball to Curry in a game. That is one of Kerr’s faults he designs too many plays around Curry. Every team in the league knows shut down Curry with 2 or 3 guarding him and the warriors do not know what to do.
I rather have Lacob than all the loser owners Warriors had the last 50 yrs.
Teams stopped double teaming Curry when Butler arrived. Offense is designed for players to pass to the open man.
Kuminga must improve his passing, he’s too tentative. He’s always afraid to be pulled from the game. Another reason why he wants a fresh start.
Years of business negotiation experience have taught me that when someone keeps telling you they are willing to accept something, it’s because they aren’t.
I would let JK go now. Looks like this will be just another distraction at the start of the season. Green/Poole distraction was a disaster for the team.
That’s GSW’s fault, nothing to do with JK as he wants to stay, but the team only wants a trade chip!
We need the season to hurry up so we can get some new storylines 😩
Are we still just saying the same things. Retreads !!!!
— The Countdown — September 19, .2025.
12 days till “Kuminga QO” …….. October 1st, 2025
12 days till Horford, Melton, Payton …….
A sign-n- trade can still be made before Oct 1st.
Grizzlies and Bucks should be all over this .
Fire your agent Kuminga.
The discourse is so comical. Kuminga is somehow:
a future franchise cornerstone for every team except Golden State,
while at the same time also being foolish and greedy for not accepting a one and now two year guaranteed contract at a below superstar rate,
while at the same time is a legitimate trade piece for Josh Giddey or Giannis,
while at the same time turning down a previous $30 million dollar per year over 5 year extension offer because he wants to be a selfish star,
while at the same time saying he will accept a three year guaranteed contract offer to be a fourth option/bench piece.
People with moderate reading comprehension are laughing at you clowns.
You just explained the Warriors fans on here lol ……
Hilarious man.
Angry Al “talks only ball and not about commenters.”
Oops.
Who’s laughing? It’s called business. Three parties involved in this “discourse.”
Both Kuminga and his camp, and then the Warriors management, ownership, and coaching staff.., both have their opinions.
Both sides are shooting for the moon. It’s negotiation, it’s chess. It’s trying to play your best hand and getting everything you can. What is there to laugh at?
The third-party are the fans. Fans of every walk of life and opinion and it shows here. Some are in the middle, some side with the team or the player. Everyone has a valid opinion.
Yes, this has dragged on, but we’ve seen guys sit out entire years over this kind of thing. This portion will be settled in a few days. Thank goodness for that lol.
Switch Grimes n picks for Kuminga
I want to see the Kings head on a platter, (Figure of speech only) !! He is the lousiest GM I have ever seen !! He has done NOTHING to improve this roster during the off season !!