Jonathan Kuminga Rejects Warriors’ Offer: New Destination in Sight?
The Golden State Warriors player, Jonathan Kuminga, continues to reject the two-year, $45 million contract offer that has been presented to him, according to sources close to him. Kuminga’s decision is largely due to the Warriors’ insistence on including a team option for the second season and their refusal to grant him a “no-trade” clause. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, proposed several deals to the Warriors during meetings at the summer league in Las Vegas, including a three-year contract for approximately $82 million, which would allow the Warriors to stay below the second salary cap and use the taxpayer mid-level exception. Kuminga and Turner have taken advantage of the month of July to explore “sign-and-trade” options. The most significant negotiations have been with the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns, who have presented proposals of up to four years for almost 90 million dollars, including a player option for the last season. Phoenix has been the team that has made the most lucrative offer through a “sign-and-trade”. The Warriors have not shown interest in the Kings’ and Suns’ trade offers for Kuminga. In recent days, they have begun to signal their intention to completely suspend “sign-and-trade” talks, maximizing their power as restricted free agents. Their current stance is that Kuminga will be on the Warriors’ roster at the start of next season, either through their two-year offer or the one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer, depending on Kuminga’s preference. Kuminga prefers the long-term offers presented by the Kings and Suns, as he believes they represent a fresh start, a guaranteed more important role, a promised starting position, and a greater level of respect and control over his career, demonstrated in part through the player option. Phoenix’s proposal also guarantees almost 70 million dollars more than the Warriors’ offer.This stalemate primarily centers on control, and the dispute over the option is crucial. Kuminga believes that accepting the Warriors’ two-year offer with a team option, along with waiving his no-trade clause, concedes too much control to a franchise that, according to him, has stunted and prolonged his career for four seasons. The Suns and Kings have proposed to Kuminga the defined role that has eluded him on the Warriors. Golden State coach Steve Kerr made several comments after the Jimmy Butler trade indicating that Kuminga’s adaptation alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green made it difficult for him to play consistent minutes. Kuminga is more drawn to outside options, considering Kerr as someone who has made it clear that there is no defined opportunity for him to play many minutes each night with the Warriors. The Warriors believe they have the best offer for Kuminga due to the higher starting salary ($21.7 million next season compared to $19.8 million elsewhere) and the concept of a two-year team option. The deal is intentionally structured to be tradeable starting January 15th, and if Kuminga’s ultimate desire is to play elsewhere, it would allow his next team to decline the team option and extend him. He would be the fourth-highest-paid player on the Warriors next season if he accepted the offer. Golden State is the only NBA team that has not made any acquisitions in the offseason due to the lack of resolution with Kuminga. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the contract proposed by the Warriors of one plus one would have an inherent “no-trade” clause, as Kuminga’s next team would not retain his Bird rights. This would give Kuminga some control over his next destination in the NBA, in case the Warriors decided to trade him. However, the Warriors have requested that he waive that implicit “no-trade” clause. This negotiation is another example of the ongoing fight for control of Kuminga’s future. That’s why, despite the short and long-term financial risk, Kuminga is expressing his willingness to potentially accept the qualifying offer. He would be rejecting almost 14 million additional dollars next season, but would be given an implicit “no-trade” clause and the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent next summer at age 23. Kuminga has until October 1st to sign the qualifying offer.Kuminga has expressed that he is not in a hurry to reach an agreement with the Warriors.
Jonathan Kuminga
