Jonathan Kuminga’s contract negotiations with the Golden State Warriors have hit a wall. According to The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman, the two sides haven’t spoken in weeks, and there’s a “distinct possibility” that the stalemate could stretch through August.
“The Warriors and Kuminga’s camp haven’t had contact for a couple of weeks,” wrote Emerman. “As he remains at a standstill. There’s a distinct possibility that negotiations, or lack thereof, could continue through August.”
The silence comes after weeks of stalled talks over the structure of Kuminga’s next deal. While both sides are believed to have an interest in continuing the partnership, the sticking points appear to center on contract length, guarantees, and player control, factors that could significantly shape Kuminga’s role and future with the franchise.
“Golden State offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract that is essentially a one-year deal; the proposal reportedly is not guaranteed for the second year and would require Kuminga to relinquish his no-trade clause in the first.”
Kuminga, 22, was drafted 7th overall by the Warriors in 2021. After a modest rookie campaign (which ended in a championship for the Warriors), he took on a bigger role for his team, settling into a premium spot in the rotation by the 2023-24 season.
The early success, however, did not last for Kuminga. As the Warriors struggled to keep up with competitors, Kuminga’s inexperience and youth were seen as an increasing burden on the franchise. It all built up to last season, his fourth in the NBA, when Kuminga’s role became unstable.
In 47 games, he started just 10 times, with averages dipping from 16.1 points in 26.3 minutes to 15.3 points in 24.4 minutes. By the time the playoffs rolled around, Kuminga was on bad terms with the Warriors due to frequent DNPs and what he saw as a lack of opportunity to grow.
Now that Kuminga is a restricted free agent, the situation has turned dire as both sides remain far apart on a new contract. For Kuminga, it’s clear he wants a more secure offer, with multiple years and, at the very least, a $30 million salary. Meanwhile, the Warriors prefer a short-term deal worth about $22.5 million per year.
While there has been talk of a potential sign-and-trade, or even Kuminga accepting the $7.9 million qualifying offer, no solution is in sight right now, despite training camp being roughly six weeks away.
As the standoff has rolled into mid-August, it’s threatening more than just the Warriors’ relationship with Kuminga. The situation has put a halt to the signing of Al Horford, who remains unaffiliated as the organization tries to negotiate with Kuminga.
With no direct contact between the Warriors and their disgruntled young star for weeks, it’s clear that they are not on good terms right now. Even if a deal gets done, repairing the trust between player and franchise may prove impossible.
If Golden State can’t bridge the gap soon, they risk not only losing one of their most promising young players but also further straining a roster already in transition. Whether Kuminga stays or goes, the Warriors’ handling of this standoff could leave a lasting mark on their future, and on how other young stars view the organization.
