Restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to return to the Warriors on a two-year, $48.5MM contract that includes a team option, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (Twitter link). The deal also features a 15% trade kicker, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (YouTube link).
Between the start of free agency and Tuesday, Golden State increased its two-year offer by a total of $8MM, according to Charania, who notes that Kuminga will receive approximately $15MM more this season than he would have on his $8MM qualifying offer.
Had Kuminga signed the qualifying offer, he would have held an implicit no-trade clause during the 2025/26 season and would have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He waived that no-trade clause as part of his new two-year agreement.
Kuminga and his agent had been seeking a player option as a prerequisite to spurning the qualifying offer, but ultimately settled for one of Golden State’s offers that included a team option. Kuminga chose this two-year deal over the Warriors’ previous three-year, $75MM offer so he can maintain a higher level of control over his immediate future, according to Charania.
The Warriors never wavered on that team option but both sides now understand the likelihood of exploring trades when Kuminga is eligible to be dealt on January 15, the ESPN insider adds (Twitter links).
Kuminga had a Wednesday deadline to sign the qualifying offer.
In terms of the roster, Golden State retains flexibility to sign a 15th player but likely not until the early part the regular season, assuming Al Horford receives the full $5.7MM taxpayer mid-level exception, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. The veteran big man has agreed to a multi-year contract that will hard-cap the team at the second tax apron.
Kuminga’s restricted free agency was among the biggest subjects of discussion for much of the NBA offseason. The Warriors reportedly gave him three options as the deadline approached: a two-year, $45MM deal with a second-year team option, a three-year, $75MM deal with a third-year team option, or three years with no team option at a reduced rate of $54MM. Golden State ultimately reached an agreement with the former No. 7 overall pick by slightly increasing that first offer.
The Suns and Kings reportedly had interest in working out a sign-and-trade deal for Kuminga, but Golden State – trying to preserve its financial flexibility this season and in future offseasons – didn’t receive an offer to its liking from either Pacific Division rival.
Kuminga started 46 of 74 games during the 2023/24 season but had a reduced role in the 47 games in which he appeared in ’24/25, particularly after the team acquired Jimmy Butler. He only started 10 games while averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists and played inconsistent minutes during the postseason. That was a factor in the contentious negotiations.
Kuminga now has strong incentive to post a strong, controversy-free season to pump up his value, whether he remains with the team or gets dealt.
All that drama for a dude who’s going to have to scrape and claw his way to a 30% 3FG lol
The contract was weighing on his mind. Now, he can relax. Contracts always screw with players.
Thats it huh ……. Niw he has no flaws. Hilarious lol
What are you whining about now? Is this how you cry when you are wrong? You kept saying for months he was going to sign the QO. Did that happen?
I said Warriors wanted him to sign the QO. Get it right. Months ……. Ha ha finally admit it. That’s hilarious…….
Hey now the Giddey salary matches up for an extremely reasonable and plausible trade!!!!
At least we don’t have to read about it anymore. Hopefully.
Its a great move by Warriors. Now they can trade him for value later in season. The issue will be how he handles coming off the bench. The miracle has happened ….. i told you to pray crybabies
Isn’t 3 year for $75M, with 3rd year team option, better than 2 years for $48M with second year team option?
Gonna be interesting if he only gets an MLE offer after this contract, if that.
So 3/63M could be in his future instead if 3/75M lol. Don’t need ChatGPT for that math.
I honestly think so … unless they trade him (Jan 15th the earliest).
Depends if he/his agent’s advice thinks he would re-sign for more than 25 M average once he hits free agency again one year earlier
If he wants to explore free agency 1 year sooner, a 3rd year is not better. It makes both sides happy. Let’s say he builds desirability. 2 quality seasons. For him, one year sooner to get more $ and for GS, a trade target team will be more amenable to agree to a trade during said quality seasons. Let’s say he’s not happy with playing time and/or he’s just not playing that well. A trade would make him happy. Trade helps him to possibly build a quality reputation with another team prior to free agency after contract ends. AND GS has better chance to make a trade without a 3rd year hanging things up. Having said all of this, I probably have proven my cluesless. Gary? Aristotle? Chappy? G74? How out to lunch was this response?
As a former pro athlete he is making a big mistake. 75 million is life changing. If he gets hurt has a bad year, he might Only make 75 total. Also you have to be realistic with your value. Pride is the ultimate sin. That 75 million is what he is worth right now.
Yup, he definitely values himself a lot more than the warriors or others teams seem to. I built several successful businesses, so it’s totality cool with me him taking a risk and betting on himself. Hopefully, he is doing it with eyes wide open though and willing to live with the possible repercussions if he gets major injury or his value sinks.
@buyingbuckets You say $75M is life changing.
He’s already made $28M. This contract gives him another $49M. That makes $77M.
When you have $77M already you can start betting on yourself.
the contract is better with a 2 year deal. He has time to build up his resume and still get a max when Butler pay is off the books. Hitting free agency at 24 means he will be in his prime.
Bro I mean this respectfully, What elite skill does kaminga possess that thinks thinks he would actually take Butler’s spot and be a number on any team? I really want to know this for all the people saying he’s holding out And it’s the right thing to do. What position does he play? The power forward or the small forward? What does he do that is going to warrant you giving up $30 million a year for a him
Now we are fans lol ………. Hilarious lols
Claude, I agree with almost everything you say.
Yes, he didn’t want the team to have an option on the third year.
Some might agree that a third year would make him less tradeable, but that’s not so easy to answer. If Kuminga plays well this season, then a third year on his deal would raise his trade value. If he plays badly, it would hurt.
Also, you have to know the amount due on a third year. It could be as low as, say, $23M, or as high as,say, $28…which makes all the difference.
Ari, Im thinking of how he’s thinking. Kuminga: “If I’m struggling or if Im not seeing the court im gonna want out (struggling means I don’t fit the scheme…notmy fault) and teams will see that. If Im a roaring success, my 3rd year is free agency instead”. Not sure he’d use those words LOL
No, Claude you were up to speed. I think I’m the only one on this board who missed it by a mile.
I thought for sure they would send them on the first plane out of town, but that’s not the case.
Slippery nipples for everyone here…, well except for Angry Al. He’s already had his…
Now would be a good time for Knickerbocker Al to man up and admit he was completely wrong that Kuminga would sign the QO.
But then he wouldn’t be KnickerbockerAl
Not if you can get 30M on the open market.
Which Kuminga should be able to if he got 25 in RFA.
Who is going to give him 30. 30 million is third star on the team money
There’s teams dumb enough to give up value to get him. He plays well on a bad team and they give him his money. It happens in all sports. I feel like a majority of those bets don’t work out, but you just need to find one desperate gm
Do you need a list of players making over $30 million that are 3rd option stars? Poole, Grant Quickley, jalen Green, Middleton, Suggs, ball, Ingram, porter, and ect…
Everyone of those contracts are viewed as BAD contracts except for Suggs.
The only high 20 to mid 30 contracts that are viewed as valuable are White, Vassell, Jalen Johnson, Sengun, Brunson. Kuminga isn’t on any of their level.
Suggs contract is like Kuminga would be viewed on potential.
ACTUALLY – 30M is only 19% of next season’s salary cap. I.E. not 3rd star money. More like #3/4 Starter.
It’s Derrick White money.
Jalen Johnson money.
Andrew Wiggins money.
It’s 3M short of Mikal Bridges money.
It’s 5M short of Jrue Holiday money.
It’s 6M short of Jalen Green money.
It’s 12M short of OG Anunoby money.
It’s 16M short of Lauri Markkanen money.
It’s 27M short of Jaylen Brown & Karl-Anthony Towns money.
It’s much better tban QO for Kuminga and esp Warriors!
Hohum
No QO, lol! Oustanding contract for Kuminga. He can just hoop now. It does come with playing time assurance. Kerr will finally treat him as a player. Even Moody was treatd differently inve he signed last yr.
I called it just do a 2 year deal and both parties are happy.
Yes, you said from the start he deserved $24.5M/yr
:–)
Apparently they’ll have room for Seth Curry as the 15th man, but will have to wait until the regular season (Nov 15th).
link to x.com
All that just for him to accept a team option? What a drama queen he could’ve signed months ago.
He got $3.5 million more by not signing months ago. That’s a lot of money to most people.
> What a drama queen he could’ve signed months ago.
By waiting, he got $5.5M more for the same terms — about a 14% increase.
But he was adamant that he DIDNT want the team option and was willing to die on his hill. I get it to us 5.5M is life changing money just thought he was going to stick to his guns and take the QO. Good for the Warriors though I think they did great with their moves and are gonna make noise this year. I hate them for what they did to the Rockets all these years but they have talent
> But he was adamant that he DIDNT want the team
> option and was willing to die on his hill.
No, his agent said that he would consider signing an extension if the amounts of two of the offers (this one and the one with the team option in the third year) were increased.
Lacob caved and increased the offer by $5.5M.
Kuminga’s agent was adamant about taking off the team option. He definitely wanted the player option.
Started at $40m at first, so $8.5m increase plus a trade kicker! Kuminga did well…
He’s going to be at the end of the bench towards the end of tht contract.
you 100% do not know ball
I’m ok with this outcome, you guys! I’m OK. Hmm. O…..K. O-K. Out Kuminga? Well yyyyeeeahhhhssss. OUT-KUH-MIN-GUH! OUT-KUH-MIN-GUH! OUT-KUH-MIN-GUH!! We’re still in the Giannis Sweepstakes!! YEAH!!
I really think we have a shot this year.. Steph, Buddy, Jimmy, Dray, and the Horeford starting. Podz, GP3, Melton, JK, Post coming off the bench. I think Will Richards and a two-way player LJ Cryer… who will be in Santa Cruz for most of the year but will come up when we experience an injury will have some key moments. Oh dang I forgot about Moody, Santos, TJD even Spencer. This might be one of the deepest Warriors teams in years
Much better than last year’s team
Yes
Green Light in the second unit. Kuminga wants to play quick and Jimmy slow. Kuminga can play with other starters too, just not Jimmy. Podz, Steph, Kuminga, Al and Green can work. D covered and spacing for Kuminga to get out in transition and slash. Iso in second unit when his number is called, get downhill young man.
There best starting 5 last season was Butler/Post/Podz/Draymond/Curry. Nothing else was close. Having Horford come off the bench makes more sense. He not going to play as many games so you have a more cohesive unit.
I agree with everything you say but from a previous post you said Horford should be coming off the bench. I see your point but Post would be starting center?
Post grew a lot during last season. He spent the summer working on his fundamentals at the Chase Center. He’ll get his ear talked off by Butler and Draymond about what he needs to do on the floor.
I definitely see what you see from Post and I think his and Horford mins will be split up …with some TJD mins thrown in. I just feel like a starting 5 with Horford will get the game going in the right direction. But I definitely see your point about Post… he’s going to be a key contributer
Nrg82, what’s up with you and the great GSW posts ?!
You totally nailed it.
Nrg82 knows basketball. He’s a hooper.
Don’t be so surprised he’s been doing it for years. You just don’t see it.
I’m going to start reading his posts again.
So now the real work begins. Presumably, Horford, Post, Melton, and a healthy Moody will give them the outside shooting they lacked last year after Klay left. They’ll have more spacing for Butler and Kuminga to operate. Butler said he felt he could mesh with Kuminga. Now they can work on that chemistry in training camp and the start of the season instead of a playoff chase. Kuminga has to learn to adapt. But, Butler and Draymond can help him realize his potential.
I remember you telling me that can’t happen. When I said he should be backing Jimmy and play some with him. When Kerr didn’t want to play him. How secure you are lol ……. wagoneer to the core
You are completely wrong again. You are making stuff up. I never said it couldn’t happen. It takes time to develop chemistry. A playoff is not the right time. Why change something that is working?
You ask me flat out that question. On why he should play. Cause I criticized Kerr.
And I answered it. You are only one who lies in here. I will bring up that post.
I told you I will show who your. You wanted me. You got me. Like oil on diddy. I will show who you are . You started this. I finish
I’m not sure what part you are not understanding. Before Butler, the Warriors were in a death spiral. Nothing was working. When Butler arrived, the offense took off and the defense started to clampdown. So, why should Kerr change what was finally working? Kuminga needed to work his way into the rotation.
@Giants74 Are you losing your mind? Or are you just so dishonest you cannot admit you were wrong?
Al is absolutely right. You made that point many times.
@easymoney What am I being dishonest about? The Warriors struggled before Butler joined the team. That is a fact. Prove to me I am wrong.
It’s weird that the best lineup GSW has is one Kerr will never use:
Curry-Butler-Green-Kuminga-Horford
Jimmy or even Dray could move to SG while still playing the “point”. This would be another example of how GSW uses positions differently to everyone else. PG Curry but playing off ball, drawing 3 guys, C Horford with wide open looks all year…honestly not a bad basic plan here
At last the posturing and negotiating in the public is over. Kuminga came to his senses and took the $ for this year. His future in Golden State remains iffy, but he will get paid this year.
He’s making $24M a year now, Kerr has to play him no matter what the peanut gallery thinks.
> Kuminga came to his senses and took the $ for this
> year.
Actually, the Warriors came to their senses and raised the offer $5.5M.
I might be the only one on here who actually loves Kuminga and believes in his superstar potential…he already is kinda there, did we all miss how he was the only one who showed up after Curry got hurt vs the Wolves? He is past his injuries now and is primed for superstardom. He has always been a delight to watch and to be around, only to have all these lunatics and phony Warriors fans online decide to turn him into a villain for no reason, just for wanting the most money he could get from the most valuable NBA franchise, one that’s worth billions. Gross. That’s on yall, that is never me. I want Kuminga on my team, only wanting him gone if it means GSW gets Giannis.
Kuminga should lead the team in MPG this year, being young and elite-ceilinged, and Kerr giving “the uncs” some rest. Kerr always talks about his “connector guy” to describe some undersized guard who can play in multiple units – but that should be Kuminga in that glue guy role that Kerr loves so much this season, not an undersized guards.
BTW, why does GSW want so many undersized guards again?
Steve Kerr after Warriors lose in playoffs ——-
“ With his future in The Bay in doubt, head coach Steve Kerr made a brutally honest statement about him on Wednesday.
“It’s a tricky one because Jonathan obviously is gifted and wants to play a bigger role and wants to play more,” Kerr said. “For me, I’ve been asked to win, and right now he’s not a guy who I can say I’m gonna play 38 minutes with the roster that we have, Steph and Jimmy and Draymond, and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win. Doesn’t mean he’s not a really good player, doesn’t mean he’s not talented. It just means the fit and with the roster we have, it is tricky. There’s no question.”
So now he’s all in on Kuminga coming off the bench. This is not a done deal. Warriors still have work to do. And have to find a way for this to work. After all they want to contend this yr. I know this. Their big 4 are HOF players. So they will have to play a part in Kumingas growth. Kerr also owes this to them. To make this work. Imo in the end I see a trade coming. Now Warriors are in a place of strength. And can get real value for Kuminga. And Kuminga can go start and be a starter on another team.
Didn’t I tell the crybabies to pray lol ….. see miracles do happen…. Time to play now.
On the positive side at least they’re familiar with this player. They’re not starting from scratch like I anticipated with a brand new guy. So that’s good news at least.
Maybe if things work out and maybe Al Horford is a calming influence, bridges can be mended and this thing moves forward in a positive way perhaps even after the trade deadline? Who knows?
We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Looking forward to the season now That this nightmare is finally over.
Good post Al. Warriors fans appreciate the positive vibe.
Old heads like Horford, K. Love are positives on that locker room.
Nowhere to go for JK than to ball-out, whatever minutes he gets from Kerr.
Kuminga has to do his part. If had signed earlier in the summer, he could have joined Butler and Draymond in their workouts. They would be so much further along.
$8M increase in Warriors offer says you’re wrong
Who was wrong? He is making less than Giddey.
If everyone is healthy all year then there is no excuse not to win a championship. Butler I’m looking at you. If Wiggins can do it then you definitely should be able to do it
Championship or bust
WOW!
Warriors ponied up. It’ll be interesting to see who he’s moved for. I imagine Warriors have a list of guys at that price.
Thank god the drama is over.
Dunleavy got what he wanted. They stayed below the 1st apron and got the team option.
Yes, and Kuminga got what he wanted also. Some security, short term contract, and playing time assurance.
Oil and Diddy????? Some weird BASKETBALL comments in here. You realize we are talking about a bench player/6th man. Chill tf out lets see what this season brings. You don’t always have to be right or feel like you’re right 🤣🤣🤣