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Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Golden State Warriors remains uncertain as both sides maintain incompatible positions.
The standoff shows no signs of resolution with neither party willing to compromise significantly.
Jonathan Kuminga has made clear he doesn’t want to return to Golden State, already rejecting their two-year, $45 million offer.
Meanwhile, the Warriors refuse to trade him without valuable compensation, having turned down offers from Phoenix and Sacramento.
With both sides in limbo until October, Warriors insider Tim Kawakami offered advice to the disgruntled forward about his best path forward.
Kawakami suggests accepting offer despite potential trade
Kawakami believes Kuminga should accept the Warriors’ contract offer, even if it results in a trade to an undesired destination like the Charlotte Hornets. He argues this approach provides better long-term benefits than the alternatives.
The insider thinks playing elsewhere on a guaranteed contract beats staying with Golden State on a qualifying offer while potentially losing his role in Steve Kerr’s rotation.
“He might get traded somewhere he doesn’t want to go. I don’t think Charlotte would be terrible for him.
“Like, he would get time, he would get buckets. He would be on a short term deal. This would not be a terrible thing for him and go hit the market again,” Kawakami explained.
The financial security of $45 million over two years significantly outweighs the $7.9 million qualifying offer that would keep him in Golden State’s system. And the risk if he takes that offer is also less than if he stays to choose his preferences.
“You’d have $45 million potentially in your pocket if they pick up that second year and you can become a free agent at 24. That’s not a terrible situation for him given versus taking $7.9 million and then being locked with the Warriors for a year when Steve Kerr is not guaranteeing him 30 minutes a game,” he added.
Warriors function effectively and Steph Curry had his best night without Kuminga’s contributions
Kawakami also believes the Warriors don’t tactically need Kuminga, as they’ve proven capable of winning without his significant involvement. Their system operates smoothly with their current rotation players.
He pointed to their play-in victory over Memphis, where Stephen Curry scored 37 points and Jimmy Butler added 38 in a 121-116 win, as evidence the team functions well without Kuminga.
“We saw once Butler arrived last year, it just played really well without Kuminga being a big part of it. Some of their best games, their most competitive ball movement, on the point defense, is where the games of Kuminga missed. And it’s Curry’s best game of the year was with that Memphis when Kuminga was out,” Kawakami noted.
The Warriors’ success without Kuminga reduces their urgency to accommodate his demands or increase their contract offer.
By accepting the offer, Kuminga would allow the Warriors to control his immediate future through the team option.
However, the two-year structure would make him a free agent at 24, providing long-term flexibility after potentially gaining significant playing time and producing decent numbers with a team like Charlotte that would feature him prominently.
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