Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency saga has become one of the most contentious standoffs of the NBA offseason. Despite the Golden State Warriors’ repeated efforts to keep the former No. 7 overall pick in San Francisco, Kuminga has made it clear: he’s not satisfied with the terms on the table.
And now, with lucrative offers from the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings approaching $90 million, the 21-year-old forward is seriously considering a fresh start elsewhere.
As reported by Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, the Warriors recently offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract. While the deal carries the highest starting salary of any proposal, $21.7 million for the 2025-26 season, it also includes a critical sticking point: a team option for the second year and the removal of the implied no-trade clause. That’s where things have fractured.
Kuminga’s representatives, led by agent Aaron Turner, have been pushing for greater player control. In meetings during Summer League, they pitched alternative frameworks, including a three-year, $82 million deal designed to keep the Warriors below the second tax apron while granting Kuminga more long-term security. Golden State declined, and the standoff has only intensified since.
Meanwhile, rival teams have entered the mix with substantial long-term offers. The Suns and Kings have each put together packages nearing $90 million over four years, complete with player options and more guaranteed money.
Phoenix, in particular, has made an aggressive push via sign-and-trade, a path Kuminga and his camp have openly explored for weeks. Sources indicate Phoenix’s proposal is nearly $70 million more guaranteed than the Warriors’ current offer, and includes promises of a defined starting role and a fresh opportunity to grow.
For Kuminga, the issue isn’t just about money; it’s about career trajectory and respect.
After four seasons of inconsistent usage under Steve Kerr and a perceived lack of long-term commitment from the Warriors, Kuminga sees the Suns and Kings as organizations willing to invest in him as a centerpiece rather than a question mark.
Sources say he’s enticed by both teams’ offers of guaranteed roles and more freedom on the floor, something he never quite received in Golden State.
The Warriors, for their part, are reportedly unmoved by the trade returns offered by Sacramento or Phoenix.
As of this week, Golden State is signaling that they’re prepared to shut down all sign-and-trade conversations, effectively daring Kuminga to either accept their current offer or take the one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer by the Oct. 1 deadline.
That qualifying offer is a major gamble. It’s $14 million less than Golden State’s deal for next season, but it comes with the benefit of an implied no-trade clause and the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, when Kuminga will still be just 23. Given the rising salary cap and his high ceiling, betting on himself may be a gamble worth taking.
At the heart of this saga is a tug-of-war for control. Golden State sees its short-term offer as a tradable, financially flexible move. Kuminga sees it as another attempt to dictate his career. Until one side blinks, or another team offers the right trade package, the Warriors remain stuck in limbo. And so does Kuminga’s future.
