Tension is rising in San Francisco as the standoff between the Warriors and their disgruntled young star, Jonathan Kuminga, drags on. In the latest update by Brett Siegel, he revealed that the swingman is on the verge of taking a $7.9 million qualifying offer that will make him an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
“There haven’t been any indications suggesting that the Warriors are thinking of changing their offer,” wrote Siegel. “Unless they do so over the course of the next week, Kuminga is prepared to end talks and accept his qualifying offer, league sources said. At the end of the day, Kuminga wants to feel valued, and the Warriors haven’t given him ample reasons to want to stay.”
This summer’s restricted free agent market has been unforgiving, with Cam Thomas accepting a $6 million qualifying offer from the Nets that includes a no-trade clause. In the case of Kuminga, an agreement isn’t even close with the Warriors, and it appears he’d prefer to keep his options open rather than accept Golden State’s current offer.
It’s been well-documented that Kuminga seeks a longer-term deal worth roughly $30 million per year. While he may not be as accomplished as Stephen Curry or Draymond Green, he believes he’s among their most valuable assets, being a 22-year-old with championship experience. With the core getting older, Kuminga envisioned himself as a key piece of their future and someone who could lead the franchise into the next generation.
Of course, the Warriors aren’t convinced that he’s worth the premium. Their final offer to Kuminga was a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option for the second year. In short, they want control over Kuminga’s future and want him to prove that he’s a long-term staple of the roster. Between his mistakes on the court and his sour relationship with head coach Steve Kerr, he has been far from perfect and still has a long way to go.
As it stands, with neither side likely to concede, it really only leaves one option for Kuminga: taking the qualifying offer. While he may lose money in the short term, Kuminga will guarantee that he becomes a free agent, giving himself an out and the freedom to choose a team that he feels truly respects his game and impact on the floor.
With averages of 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 45.4% shooting last season, Kuminga clearly has the potential to reach a higher level, and he might even become a star in the right conditions. For now, however, his path is entirely uncertain, and things could get ugly before they get better.
Regardless of what happens, this whole ordeal has been a major distraction for the Warriors, and it might impact their focus going into next season. For a team trying to win now, this type of drama threatens to disrupt the entire process, and it’s already held them back from bringing in free agents this summer, like Al Horford.
Ultimately, it’s not hard to guess how the story ends for Kuminga and the Warriors. At this point, it’s hard to imagine he’s still on the team beyond next season. Between Kuminga and the drama with Jordan Poole years ago, it’s clear that the Warriors’ struggle to retain and develop young talent could haunt them long after the Curry era ends.
