Kuminga and the Warriors: A Contractual Stalemate That Worries
Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation with the Golden State Warriors remains unresolved, generating uncertainty for the upcoming NBA season. According to his agent, Aaron Turner, the 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 contract options. The most lucrative is a three-year, $75.2 million deal, with a team option in 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 in 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 is a lot of potential. He wants to choose where he wants to go. So the qualified offer is real, for sure.
Aaron Turner
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. Kuminga has been exploring the market, including opinions external to the Warriors. The Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns have shown aggressive interest in the player, but they have not managed to finalize trade offers that convince the Warriors. Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. stated that the team was in a “good position” with Kuminga, but this has not translated into an agreement. Warriors owner Joe Lacob traveled to Miami to meet with Kuminga in August in an attempt to resolve the contract dispute, but negotiations have dragged on into September.If the Warriors want to win now, if they want a player who is happy and treated fairly and who is a big part of this team, we believe that, in the future, the player should be given the option.
Aaron Turner
