Restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga isn’t in a hurry to accept the latest contract offers from the Golden State Warriors. He shared this with ESPN’s Shams Charania after his workout in Miami on Thursday morning. Kuminga’s ongoing situation with the Warriors could extend further into the offseason as he looks into other options.
General manager Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors’ front office have shown extra eagerness this week while talking with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner. They believe they made a fair offer to bring Kuminga back for his fifth season, despite their tough four-year history together.
However, Kuminga hasn’t found their offer appealing, which means the negotiations will likely stay stalled and might hold up the Warriors’ other offseason plans. Currently, they are the only NBA team that hasn’t signed or traded for a player this summer.
The Warriors and Kuminga did not exchange contract figures before free agency started. As a result, Turner has been busy throughout July looking for sign-and-trade options, with the most interest coming from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, according to league sources.
Both teams interested in trading remain on the sidelines of negotiations, trying to talk with the Warriors about deals but not presenting anything that has made a significant impact. The Warriors are hesitant to take on what they consider undesirable salaries and prefer to receive a promising young player.
They have also consistently asked for a first-round pick in any sign-and-trade discussions involving Kuminga, according to league sources. However, Phoenix doesn’t currently have a first-round pick available for trade.
The market for restricted free agents is very slow right now due to the limited salary cap space across the league. The Warriors expected this situation and believe they have offered Kuminga the best starting salary he can get.
They felt hopeful about their latest offer, but Kuminga chose not to accept it. His team will keep looking around the league for potential sign-and-trade options in hopes that something will work out eventually. They also have the option of Golden State’s qualifying offer.
Kuminga has a one-year offer worth $7.9 million that the Warriors can’t take back. He needs to decide by October 1 whether to accept it. If he chooses this option, Kuminga will give up some immediate cash but will return on a contract that can’t be traded, giving him more control over his long-term career than he’s ever had before. This is something his team is thinking about, according to sources.
The Warriors are being careful not to finalize any other staff decisions until they figure out the Kuminga situation. This approach helps them keep their financial and roster options open because of how unpredictable things are.
However, they do have some clear plans in mind. The Warriors want to find an experienced stretch shooter for the center position and have targeted Al Horford since free agency started. While Horford is still considering retirement, the Warriors are seen as the favorites to sign him once everything settles down.
Additionally, the Warriors are interested in De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry for bench roles, sources say. Melton impressed during his six games with the Warriors last season before suffering an ACL injury.
They believe he would work well alongside Steph Curry in the backcourt and see Seth Curry, who is Steph’s brother, as a valuable bench shooter due to their family connection.
Everything revolves around Kuminga, whose contract is the main focus for the Warriors this summer. According to sources, Kuminga is looking for a more secure and steady starting position with more chances to shine. The Suns and Kings have offered him that opportunity.
Kuminga is expected to play a key role in the Warriors’ lineup at the start of next season, especially when Steph Curry, 37, or Jimmy Butler, 35, take a break and need someone to help score.
Coach Steve Kerr has recently shared this message with Kuminga. Kerr has been one of the main people working to bring everything together, as sources report.
However, Kuminga no longer wants to be seen as just a backup option or a plan B because he worries about being overlooked during crucial moments. He scored 18, 30, 23, and 26 points in the last four playoff games against the Minnesota Timberwolves after Curry was injured.
Unfortunately, he was completely out of the rotation during the first round against the Houston Rockets, which is a tough memory that influences how he feels now. Therefore, he will continue looking for a fresh start this summer.
