Warriors forward, Jonathan Kuminga, prepared to accept the qualifying offer if the team remains inflexible on contract negotiations, according to his agent.
The Golden State Warriors and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga are yet to reach an agreement after a prolonged negotiation process, with the main point of contention being the team and player options in Kuminga's contract.
Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, recently announced that Kuminga is willing to take the qualifying offer, which ties him to Golden State for one year at a $7.9 million price tag. This move would make Kuminga an unrestricted free agent next offseason. However, Turner also stated that if Kuminga is treated fairly, he would prefer to not use the qualifying offer and would instead have a player option on the back end of his deal.
The Warriors have been unwilling to include a player option in Kuminga's long-term contract, settling only for a team option. Kuminga, on the other hand, wants a player option, permitting him to bet on himself as a free agent in a more favorable market.
Initially, discussions included a $75 million offer from the Warriors, but negotiations appear stalled, causing the Warriors to hesitate on other roster moves until Kuminga's contract situation is clarified. Kuminga's most lucrative choice is a three-year, $75.2 million deal with a team option for Year 3.
However, Kuminga has rejected the Warriors' latest proposal, which included a team option for Year 3 in a three-year deal. If Kuminga is unwilling to lock himself in for three years, he could take a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option for the second year. There is also an offer on the table that includes no options and pays Kuminga a much lower salary over a three-year, $54 million deal.
Turner also mentioned that Kuminga's end goal is not necessarily to leave Golden State but to allow himself the flexibility to do so if another team offers him a larger, more guaranteed role. Kuminga made just 10 starts across 47 games last season and has never started more than 46 games in a campaign despite his production.
The Warriors made a concession to add a third year to their latest offer, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough to bridge the gap in negotiations. As the deadline for reaching an agreement approaches, both parties will need to find common ground to ensure a successful outcome for all involved.
In a recent interview on 'The Hoop Collective,' Turner stated that Kuminga will take the qualifying offer, indicating that the stalemate may continue for the foreseeable future. The Warriors and Kuminga's representatives will need to find a compromise that satisfies both parties, ensuring the young talent's continued growth and the team's roster stability.
Kuminga averaged 16.1 points per game and shot 52.9% from the field in 2024 before dipping to 15.3 points on 45.4% last year. His potential is undeniable, and the Warriors will hope to find a way to secure his services long-term.
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