The Jonathan Kuminga negotiation is pointing out like a bouquet of thorns for both parties. The Golden State Warriors have been without a complete roster for the entire off-season and have shown few signs of improvement in that direction.
Kuminga is stuck in a team as a restricted free agent that seemingly does not want him, or at least cannot find a suitable lineup for him. But one of the biggest talking points around the issue was how the three veterans on the team were going to take it.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are all towards the latter end of their careers. Apparently, the three still have no issues with the way and the speed at which things are taking course.
“I think the public is looking at the Warriors and going, ‘Hey, you still have nine players on the roster, so the veterans must be freaking out behind the scenes.’ They’re not. They’ve had their communication with Mike Dunleavy. They know what the roster is going to look like.” Warriors Insider Anthony Slater told NBA Today.
Right now, the Warriors’ offense has one lineup led by Steph Curry, which moves the ball really fast. And the other was built around Jimmy Butler’s ISO game. Steve Kerr found it extremely difficult to fit Kuminga in either of these routines. But the three Warriors veterans have gelled well together, and that showed on the stat sheet.
Their best lineup featuring the three was Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, and Moses Moody. This lineup posted a net rating of +14.8 over 108 minutes played. They featured a fast-paced small-ball unit ideal for both Curry and Butler.
So, the only thing that the veterans remain unsure of, like the rest of the world, is whether Kuminga will come back to play for the team or for a place in another franchise. Even Brandin Podziemski reassured earlier this summer that no matter what happens between the front office and Kuminga, it won’t change the way they see him in the locker room.
“I think they’re wondering about Jonathan Kuminga’s buy-in if he comes back on the qualifying offer, and their curiosity is, can this thing get done, where Jonathan Kuminga can come back and be a part of this team without an agenda,” Slater added.
“They need two things this season: they either need Jonathan Kuminga to explode in year five and present them with the type of depth at the wing that they really need, or they need him on a tradeable number that can go get them that depth,” the Warriors insider said.
But Slater also reported that the Warriors are putting offers beyond and away from the qualifying, $7.9 million deal, because they do see potential in Kuminga. He averaged 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the 51 games he played before the Warriors traded for Butler.
In 2023-24, he was a regular starter for the Warriors, averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the season. Then things spiralled downwards after a coaching strategy change cost Kuminga his minutes as well as the starter role.
Both parties stand to lose a lot if this deal goes wrong, because Kuminga can be left without a team or a contract at the end of the one-year contract that the Warriors are reportedly offering, and that leaves his future open to vulnerability.
A glimmer of hope was seen when it was recently reported that the Warriors could get Josh Giddey from the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade for Jonathan Kuminga. But that has closed for this year, with Giddey signing a $100 million extension.
The Warriors forward still might have the Chicago Bulls as a potential destination once he becomes a free agent next year, but for that, he’ll have to ride out a year in Golden State. On the other hand, the Warriors do not have many years left with Curry still shooting like his life depends on it.
