There’s less than a week left before the Golden State Warriors open training camp, but Jonathan Kuminga‘s contract saga remains unresolved. The two sides are still in a stalemate, with an NBA insider revealing what the rest of the league thinks about what’s happening in the Bay Area.
According to Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, many within the NBA are baffled at the situation between the Warriors and Kuminga. Some are even surprised that someone like an unproven player can hold a franchise like Golden State hostage.
“I’m surprised the Warriors have been bullied like this by a player that people around the league think is a backup player. This is a backup player, and they’re getting bullied by a backup player… But he is that slot. He’s the only way that they’re gonna get significantly better (via trade),” Kawakami said on the “Warriors Plus Minus” podcast with fellow Warriors beat reporter Marcus Thompson.
Kawakami and Thompson did credit Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, for making his client look important to the Warriors. The two sides have less than a week to agree on a contract, which means Golden State could begin training camp with a depleted roster.
Free agents such as Al Horford, Seth Curry, Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton have been unable to sign because of the situation surrounding Kuminga, as per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Warriors Re-Open Negotiation with Kings Regarding Kuminga Sign-and-Trade
During the stalemate situation between the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, several NBA teams expressed interest in acquiring the forward. The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings reportedly made an offer, but nothing came to fruition.
According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Warriors and Kings have reopened communications lines about a possible Kuminga sign-and-trade. The Kings are prepared to offer Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick.
However, Monk’s contract doesn’t align with Golden State’s plans for the summer of 2027. They have to find a third team to get Monk, plus the possibility of trading either Moses Moody or Buddy Hield for cap purposes.
With less than a week before training camp, the Warriors have two outstanding offers to Kuminga. The first one is a three-year, $75.2 million, with a team option for the final season. The second one is a two-year, $45 million, with a team option for the second season. The franchise also wants Kuminga to waive his implied no-trade clause.
Kuminga’s Agent Willing to Accept Qualifying Offer
Speaking to “The Hoop Collective” podcast on September 19, Aaron Turner revealed that they are leaning toward accepting the $7.9 million qualifying offer. If Jonathan Kuminga signs the offer, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He also has the power of an inherent no-trade clause.
“He will take the QO. But if he’s treated fairly, and in our mind that’s flipping (team option) to (player option), he’s back, and then we don’t have to talk about the QO. But the QO is real. It’s something that JK wants to take. It does have upside. You’re not getting traded. You’re going to have unrestricted free agency,” Turner said.
Kuminga will lose guaranteed money by accepting the qualifying offer, but he’ll control his free agency next summer. He could also get back at the Warriors by not waiving his no-trade clause, leaving the franchise with nothing to work with to improve the team. However, he needs to have a big year to get a big money deal in free agency.
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