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The Golden State Warriors are looking to find common ground with Jonathan Kuminga this offseason, although the forward is not making things easy for the team that drafted him.
Until the Golden State Warriors come to a resolution with Jonathan Kuminga, it is impossible for them to agree to deals with free agents like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton. As an unrestricted free agent, Kuminga has made it clear that he does not want to return to Golden State, although the team has more power over him than he would like.
Kuminga is expected to sign a deal with the Warriors and be traded, at the very latest, by the February trade deadline, although he is not making things easy for Golden State.
Warriors made Kuminga an offer he has no interest in accepting
In an effort to get something for Kuminga, the Warriors want to sign him to an easily tradeable deal. According to recent reports, the Warriors are willing to commit $45 million over two seasons, although Kuminga has no interest in taking less than he thinks he is worth just so he can be traded more easily.
In short, he wants fair value for his talents and potential, not to take less than that just to give the Warriors a break.
“Kuminga recently made a trip to his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and returned to Miami (his current offseason workout spot) with the same opinion about the Golden State Warriors’ two-year, $45 million offer,” revealed ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
“The Warriors initially presented it to Kuminga’s representation as a tradeable deal that could ultimately appease the long-term wishes of both sides when he’s eligible to be moved again in January, sources said. It’s why Golden State wants a team option in the second season and requested Kuminga waive his inherent no-trade clause.”
With Kuminga making roughly $22 million next season, the Warriors should be able to flip him, although Kuminga, like Cam Thomas, sees himself on par with the likes of Tyler Herro and RJ Barrett, who are both making significantly more than that.
Kuminga doesn’t owe Golden State anything
While the Warriors want to ink Kuminga to a team-friendly, easily tradeable deal, Kuminga feels like he doesn’t owe Golden State anything.
After all, the team effectively replaced him in the lineup with Jimmy Butler and did not play him in the must-win final game of the season or the first play-in game, and his postseason minutes were limited.
In Kuminga’s mind, the Warriors have made it clear that they think they can win without him, and now he wants them to prove it without his help.
“Kuminga has continued to shut it down,” Slater said of the extension Golden State has offered. “He doesn’t want such a team-friendly deal, sources said, and the idea of signing up to be more easily traded midseason is unappealing to him. Kuminga set out this summer in search of a contract that would signify a commitment to him as a future building block for the Warriors or elsewhere.”
A two-year deal, like the Warriors are offering, does not scream “building block” or “franchise player.” Rather, it signals to the rest of the league that he is a bench player, and if he gets paid like a scrub, he will get minutes that reflect that.
For a player who still has a lot to prove, demanding chances to prove himself is not a big ask.
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