After writing on Monday in a story co-reported with Shams Charania that the Warriors have made Jonathan Kuminga a three-year offer worth approximately $75MM with a third-year team option, ESPN’s Anthony Slater provided an update on those negotiations on Tuesday during an NBA Today appearance (Twitter video link).
“I actually talked to Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s agent, this morning, and the messaging they’re adopting this week is ‘turn the TO to a PO and it’s done,'” Slater said. “… (The team option) on that three-year deal, if that’s suddenly a player option, not only will Jonathan Kuminga sign it, they’re saying, but he will be completely bought in on the mission that they’re asking of him, which is – using Turner’s messaging – to get Steph Curry and Draymond Green a fifth ring (and) Jimmy Butler his first ring.”
Reporting throughout the summer has indicated that Kuminga is seeking a contract that positions him to be more of a building block than simply a trade chip.
While the 22-year-old would prefer to be in a situation where his role is both more prominent and more defined, Slater’s report suggests he has expressed a willingness to re-sign with Golden State – where his playing time and responsibilities have been inconsistent – if he’s assured of a multiyear guarantee and the opportunity to reach the open market in two years.
“(Kuminga’s camp would view a third-year player option as) a show of goodwill…for what they’re calling ‘years of confusion’ over his role and a willingness to suppress some of his personal ambitions,” Slater said. “… (He would) accept what’s probably going to be a bench role, what’s probably going to be fluctuating minutes, and accepting what will very likely be a tradable contract.”
According to ESPN’s report on Monday, the Warriors’ only offer to Kuminga that hasn’t included a team option on the final year was a three-year proposal that averaged about $18MM annually. There would be little reason for the RFA forward to accept that offer over the version of the three-year deal that includes a team option and is worth closer to $25MM per year.
Signing the one-year, $8MM qualifying offer that comes with a no-trade clause and a path to 2026 unrestricted free agency remains an option for Kuminga until October 1 if he’s not satisfied with any of the team’s other offers.
Here’s more on Kuminga:
- Golden State’s goal of maximizing cap flexibility for the summer of 2027 has been a factor in negotiations with Kuminga and in sign-and-trade talks, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Given their desire to keep their options open for that offseason, the Warriors have been reluctant to give Kuminga a player option for 2027/28; it’s also one reason why the club isn’t eager to acquire Malik Monk, the centerpiece of the Kings‘ sign-and-trade offer for Kuminga, who has a player option worth $21.6MM for ’27/28.
- The Kings are still under the impression that Kuminga wants to play for them, but the Warriors shut down sign-and-trade talks with Sacramento and the Suns earlier in the summer, says Amick. While it’s possible Golden State revisits those discussions at the 11th hour, league and team sources say a deal with either Pacific rival remains highly unlikely, Amick adds.
- Keith Smith of Spotrac takes a closer look at the Kuminga standoff, exploring various potential outcomes and explaining the various factors each involved party is taking into account.
The W’s are going to try to coax Steph into 2027+
by taking a strong run at a Giannis after 2026?
No one wants to play for that flabby and sick Warriors team. It’s 2025, not 2015.
Same can be said for lakers and clippers
2022 is closer to now than 2020 is to the Lakers.
Saying “flabby and sick” with a bunch of new Steph training photos just dropped where he looks absurdly jacked is nastyy, nasty work.
The ONLY reason why players don’t want to play on the #1 most valuable team in the NBA is because Steve Kerr is a bad coach to play under. At least don’t lie if you want to criticize. Curry is more ripped than you will ever be.
Jacked for what? To shoot 3’s?
To be able to drive the lane and get the and 1 by getting clobbered by every defender, as the league knows and abuses the fact that refs don’t give Steph anything even close to what Harden and SGA get? Also to play better defense. Can you cope any harder? Steph better.
To be in shape? To run and move constantly wearing out his opponent. To take deep threes without having to adjust his leg input as much like most other shooters. To win. Tf you mean “for what”? It’s like you don’t watch curry play, never watched Reggie miller play etc.
They have a top 5 rotation when healthy right now. If they can get one more above avg starter, like a good 3rd option on a title team theyre in business. The biggest thing is having the depth to keep Steph and Jimmy healthy and rested.
The biggest thing contributing to the ’22 title was Steph getting hurt and returning 100% for the playoffs after a 5 week break. The only thing limiting this team is health the talent is clearly there with how this roster performed last season.
They would have walked through the Wolves if Jimmy/Steph/Podz/Moody werent all either out or severely limited by injuries. The Rockets were a better team and tougher matchup than the Wolves.
At this point I trust Moody more than I trust Kuminga.
@arc89 I trust both, I don’t trust Kerr to play them in the starting lineups with Curry to help them both understand their roles. Kuminga was the only one trying after Curry had his season ended early, how quickly we forget.
Kuminga knows what he needs to do. He has been in the system long enough.
That’s the entire point: he actually hasn’t been a part of “the system” long enough, because Kerr keeps benching him for lesser likes.
@ChapmansVacuum is your user name a Matt Chapman reference? Maybe stick to MLB my guy. Chapman’s an elite defender though, I will give it up for him on that. But yeah, your hoops takes are the opposite of elite. This isnt even a good retort – “They have a top 5 rotation when healthy right now.” brother, they dont even have 10 players on the roster, they can have the best 5 but will lose every game right now because there’s only like 7 players on the active roster lol
At least you got your other points correct. But being a Warriors fan and trying to flex on rotations or rosters is a pretty silly thing to do right this very second. GSW are going 0-82 right now because they don’t have enough actives lol
They don’t even have a top 5 rotation in the West let alone the NBA. Wildly ridiculous comment.
Their record fully at the end of last season would suggest a top5 when Butler joined.
Being extremely old would suggest the Warriors won’t be at full strength the entire season. The last time any of Green, Butler or Curry played at least 80 regular season games was Draymond in 2015-2016. Since that 2015-2016 season between the three of them, they have played 70 regular season games 7 times. One from Butler and 3 each from Draymond and Steph.
I meant the west, and they for sure do. I am counting the signings everyone knows are done of course. This team is better than the one that beat the Rockets with Melton/Horford/Curry coming in, and the ability to make moves in season. They have depth, assets, and a variety of contract values to make upgrades in season.
I even think JK will be valuable to the team playing on it. They have better pieces to build lineups with him in it. He also is a 3pt shooter that usually starts bad and improves as the season progresses. He just came back super duper rusty from injury and there was no time for him to find his rhythm in a super tight playoff race. If he is making 3s and showing defensive effort theres no reason he cant be a high min player for this team. I do wish he had just spent the entire offseason working on 3s and nothing else, instead of the 90s Jordan post game.
How will they get this above replacement level starter given their salary constraints? And what skills do you think they need from this player? They really could benefit from a wing defender/3&D, I know every team could. Melton is good but undersized for larger assignments.
@tonyinsingapore
Since they have draft picks and a couple of young players, it’s not that farfetched (despite it depending entirely on Giannis asking to be traded).
You have the same chance at Giannis as you did for trading Kuminga for Giddey
It’s crazy that they’re asking for more money because JK was unable to solidify himself into the rotation, as if to say it’s the team’s fault that he never developed into a central piece for a team that wants to contend.
If Golden State can somehow get anything for him, they should do it. Especially after his agent implied that he wouldn’t be fully invested for a guaranteed $50 million.
It just seems like ungrateful and unaccountable behavior by jk’s part. He clearly doesn’t want to be a warrior and would rather be a king. Grant him his mediocrity wish and move on! We need picture day Horford & GP!!
Melton is the one who is going to get us to the title if he stays healthy. We know Steph will lead but we need the supporting cast and Melton gelled perfectly last year with most of this roster.
Yeah him not understanding why this team runs its offense through Steph, and isnt going to change for him seems like just the stupidest whiny little kid behavior.
Im sorry JK you will probably never be one of the 10 greatest players of all time, and were going to build around him. I mean he has only been here a decade longer than you, dragged this franchise out of irrelevancy, and brought it 4 titles. But the 21 year old thinks hes special and it should all be about him…
Either he is clueless, or his agent is f***ing trash, or both.
Chapmn
This is really sad.
Now people are making stuff up about Kuminga. You say Kuminga doesn’t respect Steph. Wow. This has nothing to do with Steph.
I missed where Kuminga has ever complained.
Kerr even said to Kawakami that he never complained and took all his benchings well. Kerr said Kuminga was unhappy about not playing. Same with Draymond. Listen to Dray podcast yesterday. He said Kuminga never ever made trouble no matter how bad things went for him.
What did his agent do wrong? It looks like Kuminga is getting paid what he wanted. The Warriors don’t have to pay him if he’s not worth it.
From everything i have ever read about Kuminga his beef has always been with only Kerr and nobody else. He has never said anything negative about any of his team mates.
@arc89 exactly, this “attitude” claim is again, pure racism by a racist sports fan, who literally every single year in history has called a non-white player “uppity”. Same as it ever was. Exhaustingly stupid and lies, every time.
arc89, that’s consistent with what I’ve heard. He’s clearly been incredibly disappointed and sometimes you can see it with his body language, but he doesn’t complain.
The funny thing is that Kerr is always saying what a good relationship he and Kuminga have, and that they like each other personally. But Kerr also says he knows Kuminga is incredibly frustrated.
@ arc
No but Kerr and Steph build this system to function how Kerr and Steph want it too. This team doesnt run iso offense, and everybody has to be on there toes defensively. Kuminga doesnt rebound, and ball watches on D, and goes stagnate on offense when he doesnt have the ball just standing at the 3 pt line when nobody respects his 3.
@Davey. Its a youth thing not a race thing, dude calm down not everythings about race.
@chapmansvacuum I will be charitable to you, if you say so. Maybe find a different adjective like “underperforming” or something. JK is the most smiling player in the league, he is a legit joy to even look at, he looks so happy all the time – but you indicating he has “attitude” problems because he asked Kerr to give him a defined role and instead Kerr benched him, is completely bad faith in him. He isn’t anything but an NBA player, if you hate young people in a broad stroke like this, only makes you look like corny loser, because mindlessly hating young people so hard you tell lies about them because your “gut feeling” says so, gets us nowhere as a society.
He has been the square peg in the round hole. He doesnt seem to understand that instead of the team reorienting around his game, he needs to make his game fit with Steph. Not for his whole career, since Steph is like 45 or something, but for now. Oh and he might get another ring if he does good.
Davey: I very clearly said whiny little kid behavior. Which makes sense because I was a dumbass that thought everything was about me when I was 22 too.
He has a me attitude, and he needs to have a we attitude. Aint no I in team. And since when has referring to an athlete having a bad attitude been race related? Most of these people are entitled because they have been “special” since they were ten, and that goes for athletes of all races.
@ChapmansVacuum “He has a me attitude, and he needs to have a we attitude.” show me exactly what you mean here. I do not understand how you are so inside the mind of a 22 year old Congolese person in 2025. You don’t know him. You don’t know what he’s thinking. We only know he smiles a lot. That’s it.
@Easy Money
“What did his agent do wrong?”
After GS improved their offer to the current very generous $48 mil guaranteed with a potential $75 mil including the team option, Turner, used Slater to push yet again for a player option.
Negotiating in the media and asking for something that usually isn’t given almost surely angered the GS FO.
His agent asked for 3/75+PO and that’s what his agent is going to get? YOU are wrong here.
@humps, If you don’t accept that teams and players are completely self-interested, none of this will ever make sense. It’s a business, nothing more.
A player is worth what the market says he’s worth. And that’s based strictly on a predicted future, not past.
Neither party (as you say) “owes” the other anything, nor do they think the other is “ungrateful” for the past.
@daveyJ, If you’re calling ChapmansVaccuum a racist I hope you’ll apologize immediately because he’s definitely not one. He hasn’t posted since, which makes me feel terrible.
Nope not a racist. Just busy with the engineer designing the ridicules new septic we have to install. Enhanced Treatment systems cost a fortune, pray that you never have to find out what they are.
Chap, that’s all good to hear. HR is a great place to vent when the real world isn’t going well. Knock yourself out.
I mean its going along fine the inspector tomorrow means we can finally start drawing up the final design. Its just sometimes 120k for these types of septics lols…… At least it adds more value than that to the house.
Holy crap.
Very clever
;0)
@aristotle I will take ChapmansVacuums word here. But using dogwhistle hate speech terms like “attitude problem” when there 100% isn’t one, can be confusing to us. I urge Kuminga haters to be more succinct in their verbiage and criticism of Kuminga.
@DaveyJ Good stuff.
I’m usually too sarcastic to be taken seriously by anybody, but I honestly believe we should all try to go the extra step to tolerate differences in opinion theses days.
I’m loving that you’re defending Kuminga. (As you also do with Moody and TJD.)
“Succinct with our verbiage?” Sounds like body parts, but I’ll give it a go.
HE’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Gary, stop that or I’m calling you a hater.
I love Jonathan Kuminga. He’s a good kid. But so is Richie Cunningham from Happy Days.
But it doesn’t mean Ritchie should get $25 million from the Golden State Warriors. Sure, great kid, love him, but he’s not good enough.
Richie can’t make a jumpshot. Heck, Potsie is better than Richie.
Joannie Cunningham could ball. Also, Pinky Tuscadero.
He has his flaws, his “attitude” isn’t one of them. If anything, it’s Kerr who has a “me attitude” and not a “we attitude”.
So instead of a team option they want a player option that shifts to a big advantage for Kuminga. How about a straight 2 year deal. No third option year so its even on both of them or a player/team option? Only way warriors agree to a PO if there is no trade clause so they can trade him.
Please don’t say the warriors should trade him to kings or suns because both those trades are bad trades with warriors taking on a bad contract.
OR the Warriors were always going to give 3 years and a player option, and all this grandstanding was a tactic both sides agreed to do from day 1. Look at what Draymond said about the situation “The deal will always get done in the end.” – because that was always the plan. The thing GSW wanted to see happen was another team blinking and offering a better-fitting near star-level player + a 1st rd pick to GSW, but all they got offered were lowball offers for Dario Saric and 2nd rders. So they re-up JK anyway. JK officially said he is not sitting out if the player option is there is huge. JK as a bench player this year still has massive value plus injuries happen which will provide him lots of playing time, as long as Kerr doesn’t do anything stupid.
I wouldn’t give in to making year 3 a PO under any circumstances. JK holds no leverage this offseason already, and he’s never proven he can play a consistent role. I know he and his management team continue to say that his role has been confusing and inconsistent, but you need to adapt to any situation to prove you deserve the big bucks.
@greg1 I don’t know what is worse: GSW not knowing how to develop players, or you not understanding GSW does not know how to develop players and think its the players fault that Kerr gives him different instructions every game and then benches him when he tries to play his natural game.
Davey the dumby strikes again.
If you dont understand why JK is the problem with JKs development after this little masterpiece of his…
Just cause you hate Kerr doesnt mean JK hasnt been wildly out of step with his place on this team, and what a player in their first few seasons is entitled too. He isnt from that background, but man does he ever act like a nepo baby.
This word “entitled” keeps getting thrown around about any young player and it immediately makes your argument worthless. Knock that dumby stuff off.
Kuminga is nothing but smiles, 24-7 – you live in a fantasy world.
@aristotle yes, I myself have always thought Kuminga was going to get extended, and this was all a long play by GSW because so many teams were handcuffed this offseason, they just really wanted to make sure there was no way to improve over Kuminga this offseason, and now they know. Kuminga’s opening request was literally 3/75 +1 PO. GSW has folded on every aspect and always was going to fold. They just wanted to stretch out the offseason because why not?
I also don’t expect Kuminga to be a star next year! I think he will keep coming into his own until his mid-20s, like so many players do. Then, we will know who he is in this league. It is now too early to tell, but Kerr could have made it happen sooner if he was good at developing players, which he himself admits he does not know how to do.
It looks like Warriors fans on this board will remain forever split on JK, but if he signs this multi-year deal at $25M/yr, regardless of the third year oprion, then I believe the team will have decided in his favor.
Hopefully, we’ll then have better things to talk about :–)
> If you dont understand why JK is the problem with
> JKs development after this little masterpiece of
> his…
Chap, are you having a bad day? Are you advocating indentured servitude? He’s a free agent, and he should act in his own economic interest. And it looks like it was the right approach judging by the Warriors’ concessions.
Are you suggesting he should have signed earlier, at lesser terms, because that would benefit the team more? Do you you believe the Warriors weren’t playing hardball?
‘years of confusion’ over his role and a willingness to suppress some of his personal ambitions,”
Thats what Im talking about lols. He just doesnt seem to get it. He won a ring year one, and hes been in the building during the years. He can see the standings. The team shows him tape and numbers behind why they do what they do with the team, and him. Like they would have to remake the roster for his personal ambitions to be reached in a way I dont think they have a path to right now. If he just gets in where he fits in, and tries to be the player this team needs while he develops, and star once Steph retires.
Im cool with the money stuff thats all fine. I like him on a 2+1 or even just a straight 3/75M guaranteed. I think if you want to build him up as an asset a 1 year deal is dumb, and he has more value with more team control to a team that values him.
Chapman, respectfully, but this sounds like classic “blaming the victim”. There is plenty of blame to go around. Maybe your account is the more accurate, but it’s opposite to how players and most in the national media see it.
The treatment goes beyond a bunch of broken, public promises by Kerr over the last 2 years. Now, we have the unprecedented behavior of a coach publicly criticizing a player during his free agency, reducing that player’s market value and negotiating leverage (not to mention the Warriors’ as a team). We heard the criticisms of Kerr in the national media from many NBA players. Kerr broke the code, THE cardinal rule in pro sports:. “Disrespect me in private all you want, but NEVER touch my pocket.” Listen to what ex-players have to say about whether they would sign a contract for a coach that did that to them.
Now watch the Kerr loyalists come forward with, “well Kuminga deserved it” or “Kerr is allowed to say whatever he wants because he won 4 Chips.” Meanwhile, the rest of the world sees it differently.
This isn’t some new behavior pattern by Kerr. Read Marcus Thompson’s book on KD’s time with the Warriors. Kerr’s huge ego prevents him from making public statements that offend his players.
Dude Kuminga ran to the media like a year and a half ago to whine about playing time.
I dont think Kerr has broken any promises. I think he is a very honest direct person. Im positive he has told JK what he wants in order to earn more playing time. But JK wants to be Kobe, and doesnt listen.
Like Kerr is straight up enough that he is honest to the press. He came back and the fit was bad, and he was rusty, so we couldnt make it work in the pressure cooker that was the end of our season. Anyone watching the team knew that was true. It shouldnt be some secret he let out when all the people watching the team and covering knew that.
I think Kerr could have handled it better, but he is also one of these coaches that wont just play you 4 min to get you off the DNP. He will play you a full rotation role or not at all. Kuminga came back and they won one game and then started losing. They were 22-2 without Kuminga after Jimmy and 1-3 with him. Those losses put them in the play in, put them in HOU for the first round, and put them on the road for MIN. I dont think it was his fault he was rusty coming off injury, but JK may have cost them a WCF berth at worst by making the path way harder.
@ChapmnsVacuum
“They were 22-2 without Kuminga after Jimmy and 1-3 with him.”
Except that’s not even close to true.
The facts are that they were 13-3 “without Kuminga after Jimmy”, and Kuminga played in 15 games “after Jimmy”. They were 10-5 with him.
The loss that put them in the play in was the home OT loss to the Clippers that Kuminga was benched for, remember? The one where they starters were exhausted by OT and Harden outscored the warriors with 12 of the Clippers’ 13 pts shooting 75%/100%/100% while the GS starters could only manage to score 8. Butler played 48 minutes but only scored 2 pts in OT, Podz, Hield, and GP2 were 0-3, and Steph was 1-3 as the Warriors shot 3-10.
Imagine if Kerr would have put Kuminga in for the usual 5 minutes per quarter how much more energy they would have had.
It felt like his return was closer to the end. The point being he looked really good vs SAC, and then was utter doghit the next 7 games including losing 3-6 where he was featured. After that he was scaled back in most of the tough matchups, and his playing time kept falling till the season ended.
He was his usual bad on defense, but also just couldnt make shots. Not getting Stoks, turning it over a ton. He looked rusty, not actually fully healthy, but upset as his playing time diminished.
> I dont think Kerr has broken any promises.
OK, I am going to take the time to get all this info together for you (but you better read it!). The broken public promises are well-documented.
The numbers you cite about GSW’s performance post-Jimmy are not accurate, but I see @NBAisOK has already commented.
OT, I really hope that septic mess is over for you soon. Cheers
Its simple Davey. He thinks the team should put him in the best chance to succeed and be a star. Unfortunately building around Kuminga right now is not nearly as good as building around Steph. Has Kerr not given him enough leash when he could? Sure sometimes he got benched to quick, but part of that was him just making the same mistakes over and over they had told him not too.
It would have been great if the Warriors were so far above the competition that they could afford to give him developmental min like Poole got when the team sucked. Unfortunately they have had to scrape and claw for every win in order to barely or not at all avoid the play in.
Everybody knows from high school sports on up at least, when you do what the coach tells you you play, when you dont you dont.
> He thinks the team should put him in the best chance
> to succeed and be a star. Unfortunately building around
> Kuminga right now is not nearly as good as building around
> Steph.
Chap, I think that’s inaccurate and unfair. It’s the “red herring” offered by his detractors that Kuminga has said he should be the featured player ahead of Steph. What he has said is that he is sure he can help the team if given a fair chance. And, after Kerr stated publicly after the season that Kuminga didn’t fit and would be better off elsewhere, Kuminga repeated the same thing in public. But Kerr was very careful to say in the interview that Kuminga had been a good citizen and accepted what he was told.
And, Kuminga DID fit in before the Butler trade. In fact, immediately before he got injured in January, after his best-ever month of play in January, Kerr said he “had broken through” and “he is finally making all the right reads” and would be a “featured player in their offense”. The problem is that all changed when Butler arrived.
It’s clear that Lacob and Dunleavey see Kuminga as a #2 or #3 player on the team AFTER the big 3 is gone. He’s a big, two-way wing in the mold of a Jalen Brown.
The fit has never been very good because of the spacing. In order to build a roster that makes JK shine you would have to get rid of players that work with Steph, like his pick and roll partner, and the teams defensive anchor. So yeah you would have to re shape the roster to make it fit JK better.
Kuminga/Butler/Green is always going to be super rough spacing unless JKs shooting gets better. Draymonds has improved, but isnt respectable, and both him and Jimmy are what they are at this point. The only other way that spacing works is if you defend at an insane level. Kuminga despite having all the defensive tools has been a pretty poor defender so far.
Maybe right now his best role is spelling Jimmy and Dray when they need a night off, and being the instant offense off the bench with the second unit. I dont know if he would be ok with that, or is working on the skills needed to fit better with the starters. It seemed like he was working on all the stuff the team doesnt need from him this summer.
Chap, those are all good great basketball points, as usual. My issue is with (what I believe) is undeserved criticism of a young player’s character, especially in the face of (what I believe) is poor treatment by the HC.
The challenge of fitting Kuminga with Jimmy and Dray hasn’t been addressed, but the claim that Kuminga doesn’t fit with Steph and Dray is incorrect. There is a mountain of statistical evidence that says so. I’ll avoid the analytics, which are even more compelling, because I know you trust the basic +/-, ON/OFF stuff
For the last 2-years, the Curry+Green lineups have been significantly better with Kuminga on the court:
Curry+Green lineups (Kuminga ON):
901 minutes
+11.1 Net Rating
Curry+Green lineups (Kuminga OFF):
1806 minutes
+3.5 Net Rating
We can talk more about what comes after Kerr in 1 or 2 years, but it won’t be a motion/read-react offense. It’s too hard to find or rain young players that can play that way. It’ll be a total overhaul. Lacob and co will do what they’ve done with the Valkyries, which is to build a coaching staff and roster based on how the game has evolved. That means it’ll be about “ISO, athletes and defending the 3-point line”. See OKC, Celtics, Knicks, Cavs, Magic, etc
The only pushback I would have on the JK/Steph/Dray pairing is that it requires Dray at the 5 in almost all alignments, and I just dont think you can run him at the 5 all season. Its the best lineup they can run, but Draymonds body wont hold up. It becomes harder to get a defensively good 5 with the ability to really space, since every team in the NBA is looking for that.
A couple fun ones would be if Giannis did get traded to another team in the east lets say. GSW could swoop for Miles Turner for a lot less than Giannis would cost. Or what would the team have looked like the last few years if they had gotten Porzingas instead of CP from Wash?
That’s valid pushback. Draymond needs much more rest. Ironically, the Warriors 2nd most effective lineup with over 200 minutes played together in 2023-24 was Steph, Podz, Draymond, and TJD. (Yes, TJD). Our best had Wiggins instead of TJD.
You and I have talked about this before, but JK’s defensive presence, as with Wiggins’, is an unappreciated consideration that shows up in the analytics. This was the core of all the Dunleavey statements over last summer that their lineup changes (basically, Klay leaving) was “addition by subtraction”. Replacing Klay entirely with JK and Wiggins turned a high-scoring offense into a more balanced lineup with a higher point differential.
@ChapmansV
IMO JK could play Wiggins’ role, and with Horford starting over half the games Dray wouldn’t have to play the 5.
Except Wiggins was a floor spacing wing defender. JK shoots the 3 way worse the AW, and is way worse on defense.
35% to 33% isn’t “way worse” its “slightly worse”. Stop using hyperbole.
Horford at the 5, Kuminga at the 4, Dray at the 3, Steph at the 1
You don’t build with 1 player, you build with many. “Build around Steph” is a metric YOU assigned, not anyone else.
Oh would you look at that, mainstream media reporting GSW is clearing space for either Joker or Giannis! Wow, I guess this wasn’t just a thing I made up, all along! You all were wrong, trying to prove me wrong. Cool!
I’d do
4-year $94 mm with team option at 4th
68 + 26 = 94
It has to be tradable, never overpaid
Sillivan !!!
Where have you been ????
I’ve missed your voice of reason usually nestled here amongst all the chaos in the warrior article comment sections of HR !!
Off season, I don’t talk much as usual
Excellent, welcome back.
Where can I find you on the basketball court? I’m ready to run.
I promise to pass you the ball as often as you need it. I’ll set screens for you too.
Just finished my cross country trip .., played ball at West Vic and also Central Park in Victoria, Stanley Park in downtown Toronto, Parc Jarry in Montreal, LA fitness in Connecticut and of course my regular hangout LA fitness in Tampa area. Let’s GO !!!
Kuminga is just using the Kings to better his offer with the Warriors. He is NOT coming here !!
Joker and Giannis arent reaching FA. They will either extend or be traded and extend. Thats how the NBA works now. Every time teams lineup cap space for the big FA they all extend first. Not one has reached FA since ’19.
So will you delete your account if this PREDICTION (not fact) you are making here does not come true?
@Chap, that’s an uncharacteristically pessimistic take re our chances on Giannis. I’m bummed. What happened?
He’s right! They both will extend joking with nuggets and Giannis with whatever team he finishes the season with !
The real resson free agency is dead is no in prime superstar wants to play out a lame duck year snd bust there ass on a team they plan to leave !
Kawhi might actually be the top free agent that year
I think its actually that no team wants to ever have an expiring star on the books, so they extend them early, or trade them to a team that almost for sure will before the expiring year.
Like Reeves/White will be real FA this year because the extension numbers are so low its laughable. Other than odd situations like that I doubt very many guys above 3rd best player on a title team ever reach FA.
I think the team has a real chance at trading for him. I just dont think MIL will let him be an expiring on the roster in ’27, and if we dont trade for him, whoever does will instantly extend him.
I would still say the Ws can put up a top 3 package out of non rebuilding teams, since UTH/WAS etc arent in the mix.
> I think the team has a real chance at trading for him.
I agree that GSW has a “real” chance if “real” is greater than 1% but it’s not high enough for Lacob/GSW to sacrifice the conventional path where they have control.
For sake of discussion, let’s say the chances of MIL trading Giannis are 50%. GSW will be one of many bidders, and they certainly won’t have the best offer. So, let’s say the chances are in the 5% to 15% range. That’s not high enough to justify making other moves to enable it.
I think Giannis would try to stay in the east, if he can go to the right team (Pacers?)
Pacers?
Don’t you think he’d be a great fit on the Pacers?
I’m the wrong guy to ask.
I thought he’d be great on thr Bucks 2 years ago with Lillard, Middleton, and Lopez.
Pacers sent out a bunch of stuff in the Siakam deal, and really dont have a competitive package.
I dont think they should do much to plan for a Giannis trade. I think some of the stuff you would do to plan for Giannis applies to all super stars who could come available. I think they either need to start rebuilding, or make a move with at least the next 2-3 draft picks to improve the roster, unless your using more/all the picks in a trade for a true number 1-2 player.
Well, I can see we’re gonna have many spirited debates over the next 1-2 years!
For now, let me put you on the spot: what probability do you think Lacob & Dunleavey ascribe to the team not making the playoffs this season?
Injuries not withstanding I would say 85% to make the playoffs with the current roster. Its better than the one that played most of last year, and was only a few games off the 2 seed. This teams quite a bit deeper, and Melton/Horford could unlock some super nasty lineups in the playoffs. Its just all a bet the Celabrini can keep this roster band aided together. I think again it will be a fight where a few games separate home court in the first round, and being in the back of the play in. Unless the league destroys the Clippers mid season and Kawhi becomes a FA in Jan.
85% to finish in the top 6 would be optimistic by any model or betting lines I’ve seen. The front-office is going to be ruthlessly objective in their assessment, which I believe is more in the 65% range.
I guess we’re back to our disagreement around the inevitability of decline with players in their late 30’s. The world saw it with Steph missing the last playoff series. The odds of Steph wrestling with injuries are significant. We got lucky that Jimmy could sit out the first 60% of the season. The last seasons he’s averaged ~55 games played. He is not a durable player. Neither is Draymond. And they’ll each be 36
Realistically, we should expect each of the big 3 to miss about 20-25 games, and average about 30 mins in the games they play. (Obviously, it could be much better or much worse.)
My belief is that ownership/front-office sees a ~65% they can finish in the top 6. If that happens, they’ll run it back next year. If not, they start the rebuild.
Thats to make the playoffs. I would think if healthy they are one of the better play in teams too. So it would be 85% to make the actual 8.
Phew, it will be all over by October 1st!
Turner with the unintentional humor when he said “he will be completely bought in on the mission that they’re asking of him, which is to get Steph Curry and Draymond Green a fifth ring (and) Jimmy Butler his first ring.”
I can’t wait to see if GSW will add a bit more as far as a partial guarantee, a 2 year guaranteed at $20 mil which JK has said he’d sign, or other benefit to JK, or if this is as far as they go (which might just result in him signing the QO).
That would mean losing $14-40 mil depending on your viewpoint and his Bird rights while gambling on his market as a FA. He would be unlikely to ever recoup those losses.
This linked article came out yesterday, and it’s quite thorough. Despite the pessimistic conclusion, it’s worth a read:
link to spotrac.com
The spotrac article was obviously written before or without awareness of the last week’s developments.
As of today, we know that Kuminga wants to sign a contract, and not the QO. Warriors beat reporters think it’s signed by Friday.
@NBAisOK, Did you hear that Draymond and Butler have been reaching out to Kuminga over the last few weeks, and that this is what has led to Kuminga’s new position?
Listening to Draymond, it sounds like they told Kuminga that they really needed him to help win a Chip over the next 2 seasons.
He just needs to not over help with shooters when hes supposed to be in the paint, and not ball watch. By George Draymond may be onto something in that case.
Here’s ESPN clowning the Warriors yesterday:
link to x.com
@aristotle, so are Dray and Jimmy going to convince MJD to give JK the player option?
> @aristotle, so are Dray and Jimmy going to convince
>. MJD to give JK the player option?
Ha! I doubt it.
It sounds like they reached out to show him love, knowing he was feeling rejected by the team. If you listen to Draymond, that’s all that was needed. Also they were talking to Lacob about “bringing the family together”.
@NBAisOK, I don’t understand. Do you think they are pressuring Lacob and Dunkeavey to make the contract better?
@NBAIsOK,
ok, you were being sarcastic. I’m slow sometimes.
@aristotle,
JK has been saying he won’t sign something with a team option for months. Has that now changed based on Dray and Jimmy saying the team wants/needs him so he’ll sign the current offer as is?
October 1st ………. tik tok …. tik tok …
link to youtu.be
Bye Bbbbbchs …. time is up.
Horford, Melton, Payton, QO 8 mill trade.
This is hilarious ……. if you don’t believe or like Kuminga. Then why keep him around. Why do you expect value for a player you talk down all the time.
link to hoopsrumors.com
link to hoopsrumors.com
He’s not signing anything with a TO. I don’t think this is credible. Not sure how 25 mill affects signing the FAs in waiting. Horford is probably the most important of the three. If it’s not a S-n-T it’s too much for a sixth man. I just can’t see him lasting on this team.
The “poison pill” provision
maybe Luke can explain this. But it says he can’t be traded for a year. Just can’t see this working …..
link to google.com
If he signed the three-year, $75MM offer, Kuminga could be traded as of January 15 (regardless of whether the final year is guaranteed, a player option, or a team option).
@nbaisok,. Yes, that is my very speculative take on of what I’ve read and heard over the past 24 hours.
It seems like some kind of emotional obstacle was removed with the Lacob and Draymond conversations. I also heard that Butler was rather direct to ALL parties — as in, it’s time to s*** or get off the pot.
The fact that he wants a player option is, from Turner’s point of view, a way of saying “I want to be here if you want me to be here”. But, I suspect that he’ll drop it by Friday if they have to.
Kuminga will have to fold on his requests eventually cause the team has so much control. Take the QO offer or be left with whatever the Warriors are offering either that or sit out and not play which kills his value
Warriors may aswell offer 20 mil a season 3 year deal with no options. Enough length for a team trading for him to be happy, not too expensive and no team option which Kuminga is so unhappy with
Nope, GSW have folded to Kuminga’s demands and always were going to. Keep pushing this anti-player stance, it’s so cool!!! smh
That might happen.
> Kuminga will have to fold on his requests eventually cause the team has so much
> control. Take the QO offer or be left with whatever the Warriors are offering
@Simmons>Russ, You’re smart, so I’ll assume you haven’t been following. The Warriors have already “folded” insofar they have guaranteed the second year and bumped up the offer to $25M/yr.
The “unhappy” and “ungrateful” narrative has been proven to be misguided.
Anyone who hates Kuminga, is not a real Warriors fan. Straight up.
Of course « fan » is short for « fanatic ». Enjoying the discussion here as the days get shorter and the season approaches. Thanks for the entertainment .
Me: I am a huge Warriors fan and all I want is for them to win the title with an active Steph
Warriors “fans”: I hate you for wanting us to win!!!
lol its so weird, but I agree with you Sam!