Kuminga and the Warriors: A Contractual Crossroads
Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Golden State Warriors hangs in the balance, according to his agent, Aaron Turner. The Warriors player is willing to accept the $8 million qualifying offer if the team’s current proposals are not improved.The Warriors have presented Kuminga, 22, with three different proposals. The most attractive is a three-year, $75.2 million deal, with a team option for the third season, guaranteeing Kuminga $48.3 million in the first two years. He has also been offered a two-year, $45 million contract with a team option for the second season, and a three-year, $54 million deal without options. Kuminga, so far, has rejected all offers, requesting that the Warriors convert the team option into a player option, which he would be willing to sign.“There’s a lot of potential,” Turner said in an interview. “He wants to choose where he wants to go. So the qualifying offer is real, for sure.”
Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s Agent
The Warriors are the only NBA team that hasn’t signed any free agents this summer. Less than two weeks before the start of training camp, they only have nine players on their roster. They are expected to sign veterans Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II once the Kuminga matter is resolved, but negotiations have stalled for three months. If Kuminga signs the qualifying offer, he would forgo more than $40 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, but would obtain unrestricted free agency next summer and an inherent no-trade clause, a high price to control his own destiny.“If the Warriors want to win now, if they want a player who is happy and treated fairly and who is an important part of this team, we believe that, looking ahead, they should give him the player option,” added Turner.
Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s Agent
Kuminga has been exploring his market, including the opinions of people outside the Warriors organization. The Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns have been the most aggressive in pursuing Kuminga, but they haven’t been able to finalize trade offers that convince the Warriors to let him go. In the Warriors, Kuminga would return to a possible role as a substitute, behind Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Horford. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. stated that the team was in a “good position” with Kuminga, but that hasn’t led to an agreement.“If JK wants to accept it, he has advantages, right?” Turner said. “You don’t get traded. You’ll have unrestricted free agency next summer.”
Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s Agent
The Warriors owner, Joe Lacob, traveled to Miami to meet with Kuminga in August in an attempt to resolve the contract dispute, but it continues in September. The key point for Kuminga is for the Warriors to offer him a player option in two- or three-year contracts. They would also be willing to sign the two-year deal in the $45 million range if they allow him to keep the inherent no-trade clause, which would give him a say in where he plays. But the Warriors have not conceded on that, requesting that Kuminga waive the no-trade clause. Turner has said that Kuminga would be willing to accept a team option deal if the Warriors increase the annual figure to about $30 million, or accept the current deals if they include a player option. Otherwise, they threaten to accept the qualifying offer, which would sink his trade value. Turner added that, should Kuminga accept the player option, the Warriors could retain his Bird rights even after the option, and that treating him well and showing him the plan could result in him staying with the team.“I’d like to get something resolved as soon as possible. That would be great,” Dunleavy said. “But I also recognize that, with restricted free agency, these things can drag out a little bit and take some time.”
Mike Dunleavy Jr., General Manager of the Warriors
