Kuminga to the Limit: Qualified Offer or Future with the Warriors?

Kuminga and the Warriors: A Contractual Standoff

Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Golden State Warriors hangs in the balance, according to his agent, Aaron Turner. The player is willing to accept the $8 million qualifying offer if the team doesn’t improve its current proposals.

There is a lot of potential. He wants to choose where he wants to go. So the qualified offer is real, without a doubt.

Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s agent

The Warriors have presented Kuminga, 22, with three different proposals. The most attractive is a three-year, $75.2 million contract, 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 another three-year, $54 million contract without options. So far, Kuminga has rejected all offers, requesting that the Warriors convert the team option into a player option, which he would sign.

The Warriors, for their part, have refused to include a player option in any of their offers and have not commented on the state of negotiations.

If [the Warriors] want to win now, if they want a happy and fairly treated player who is a big part of this team, we believe that, looking ahead, they should give the player the option.

Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s agent

If Kuminga signs the qualifying offer, he would forgo more than $40 million guaranteed in the next two years, 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 organization. The Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns have shown great interest in the player, but they have not managed to finalize trade offers that convince the Warriors to let him go. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. commented that the team was in a “good position” with Kuminga, but an agreement has not yet been reached. Warriors owner Joe Lacob met with Kuminga in Miami in August in an attempt to resolve the contract dispute, but negotiations have extended into September. The key point of the negotiation is the player option. The Warriors would be willing to sign the two-year contract for $45 million if Kuminga waives the no-trade clause. Turner has indicated that Kuminga would accept a team option deal if the Warriors increase the annual figure to around $30 million or accept the current offers with the player option. Otherwise, they threaten to accept the qualifying offer, which would affect their trade value. Kuminga’s contract situation remains unresolved, which could affect the Warriors’ strategy for next season.