For several weeks, the NBA free agency has been plagued with uncertainty over what will happen with Jonathan Kuminga’s future at the Warriors. Amid the rising tension between the Warriors’ front office and his representation, Kuminga has now reportedly decided to skip the Warriors’ media day scheduled for September 29.
According to ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania, Kuminga’s situation is expected to overflow from the free agency into the basketball calendar of the season.
“Kuminga did not travel to San Francisco this weekend and won’t be in attendance for Monday’s media day, league sources told ESPN. Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made contact with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, on Sunday, but there’s no momentum toward a Kuminga contract or return prior to the team’s first practice on Tuesday,” wrote Charania.
Kuminga has until 11:59 PM on October 1 to decide whether he wishes to accept their qualifying offer. Following the deadline to accept the qualifying offer, Kuminga will still have three offers on the table for him.
“The Warriors have kept their three outstanding offers on the table, sources said. The two most lucrative — two years, $45 million and three years, $75.2 million — include team options on the final season, and the only offer without a team option is for three years and $54 million.”
Charania claims that Kuminga has been “resistant” to the deals with team options, as previously clarified by Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, as well.
“He has messaged to the Warriors that he would view a contract offer with a player option in it as a sign of goodwill after what his side has described as “years of confusion” about his role and an expectation he’d return to fluctuating opportunities under coach Steve Kerr and a likely midseason trade.”
While the Warriors have reportedly decided not to extend the qualifying offer beyond October 1, they seem to have started acting as if the situation has been resolved. They had put their free agency moves on hold until they figured out Kuminga’s future. But they have now filled their roster with new additions like Al Horford, Gary Payton II, De’Anthony Melton, and their rookies Alex Toohey and Will Richard.
Therefore, Kuminga has very little time to decide whether he wishes to accept the qualifying offer or if he wants to be restricted to the other offers he has on the table. Several experts have blamed Kuminga for bringing this situation upon himself.
The Warriors player averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 30.5% from beyond the arc. He strongly believes that he is worthy of a contract valued at $25 million or higher. But following these signings, the Warriors can only offer him a maximum of $23 million in year 1 if they want to sign a 15th player on their roster (per Bobby Marks of ESPN).
It still seems likely that he will accept the qualifying offer, considering it gives him an inherent ‘no-trade’ clause and also ensures that after this season, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and chooses the team of his choice, as he has clarified on several occasions that he does not see a future with the Warriors.
