The Golden State Warriors finally struck a deal with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga to bring him back on a two-year, $48.5 million extension. But while they have quelled what was the biggest storyline following the team this summer, the contract could drastically affect the Warriors‘ title hopes moving forward.
The Kuminga deal, along with the contracts of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, and others, puts Golden State near the limit of the second apron. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Kuminga’s contract means the Warriors are extremely limited as to the future moves they can make to solidify themselves as title contenders.
“But there are financial consequences with the new Kuminga contract and signing Al Horford to the tax midlevel exception,” Marks wrote. The Warriors are now hard-capped at the second apron — they are $2 million below — and not allowed to take back more salary in a trade and aggregate contracts if it leaves them over the second apron.
It isn’t all bad, as Golden State still can move Kuminga after January 15th, now as a high-value trade asset. However, the Warriors would need to have some financial flexibility to both find a player that fits with the team, with a salary that keeps them under the second apron.
Kuminga’s Deal Doesn’t Mean He’s Staying Put
Kuminga himself has addressed the possibility of him being moved in the near future, and the framework of his contract makes it relatively easy for Golden State to trade him if a deal becomes available. However, he’s with the team now, and for the time being, taking up a valuable chunk of their salary cap.
“I‘m here now,” Kuminga said after signing his deal in response to a question on if he wants to be with Golden State long-term. “That’s everybody’s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future.”
His stalemate with the team over the summer and recent verbal scuffles with head coach Steve Kerr haven’t caused him to have a great standing with the team, meaning a deal could come at the trade deadline, especially if Golden State is fighting for a playoff birth.
As Marks wrote, the Warriors’ signing Kuminga to a larger deal rather than the $8 million qualifying offer is massive in their favor. Rather than having an asset making less than the mid-level expectation, it would have made it even harder to trade for a significant player, even if the money is piling up now.
Kuminga’s performance on this iteration team has yet to be seen. But as his best play came when Curry was sidelined during the team’s 2025 postseason run, his future in the Bay Area holds a massive question mark.
“Therefore, although Kuminga’s contract is designed essentially as a walking trade piece, we could see the team give a genuine attempt at re-ingratiating Kuminga into the rotation before they decide to cut bait (depending on what’s available on the trade market, of course),“ G.C. Bellchamber wrote for BlueManHoop.com.
The Warriors Still Have Very Limited Options
Golden State was quiet until a deal was made with Kuminga. After the extension was announced, they also added Horford, Gary Payton II, De’Anthony Melton, Seth Curry, and signed some of their recent draft picks.
However, with Curry, Butler, and Green taking up a majority of their salary cap, added on by Kuminga’s $22.5 million average annual salary, they now have little room to work with. Along with Horford’s deal and the other players they signed, Golden State is at the limit of the money they can spend.
Curry, Butler and Draymond Green combine to earn more than 75% of the Warriors‘ team salary cap, leaving Golden State without enough salary to cobble together a deal if an impact player were available,” Marks added. “ The Warriors’ three next highest-paid players — Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and Brandin Podziemski — have a total salary equal to $24 million.”
The contracts Golden State sent to the Miami Heat in the Butler deal last season would be nice to have now, but heading into this season, their payroll is top-heavy, making the possibility of adding another championship piece, while keeping their core together, very difficult.
The Kuminga deal doesn’t help any of those issues immediately, but it does offer a ‘middle-ground‘ contract for potential trade partners to work with. Though they might not be available in a deal, other players making a similar amount to Kuminga are P.J. Washington, De’Andre Hunter, and Kyle Kuzma – reference points for potential Warriors’ targets in February.
Golden State has massive limitations now, but as seen in the past, they could make something work if the season, and Kuminga’s fit in particular, aren’t going as planned.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Kuminga Deal Means Bad News For Warriors’ Trade Plans: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.