Warriors, Kuminga settle on two-year, $48.5M contract
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Restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga has reached a two-year, $48.5 million agreement to remain with the Golden State Warriors, his agent Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball told ESPN on Tuesday night.
The contract ends a summer-long deadlock between the 22-year-old and the franchise. The second season is a team option, giving Golden State — or any club that might acquire Kuminga after he becomes trade-eligible in mid-January — the right to renegotiate a new deal following the 2025-26 campaign. As part of the arrangement, Kuminga waived his automatic no-trade clause.
Golden State increased its proposal by $8 million since July, guaranteeing roughly $15 million more than Kuminga’s $8 million qualifying offer would have provided for 2025-26. Kuminga declined a three-year, $75 million alternative to preserve greater control over his near-term future.
The forward missed Monday’s media day and the first practice of training camp while negotiations wrapped up. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kuminga’s representatives had sparred all offseason over contract structure, with the Warriors insisting on a team option and rejecting requests for a player option or higher annual salary without one.
By landing at $22.5 million for 2025-26, Kuminga will hold the fourth-largest salary on next season’s payroll behind Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green. The new figure pushes Golden State’s projected luxury-tax bill from roughly $10 million to more than $80 million.
The deal still permits the Warriors to use their $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception and add two veteran-minimum contracts. Guard Gary Payton II returned Monday on a one-year minimum pact, and the club has also secured agreements with Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and rookie Will Richard.
On Tuesday, Golden State reached a separate one-year agreement with free-agent guard Seth Curry, pairing him with his older brother Stephen when camp opens Wednesday. To carry both Currys into the regular season, the Warriors would need to shed salary or roster spots via trade.
Throughout the stalemate, the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings discussed sign-and-trade concepts. Phoenix offered a four-year package worth nearly $90 million with a player option, while Sacramento’s pitch centered on Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick. Golden State rejected both proposals.
Kuminga’s playoff usage fluctuated last spring. He logged only 50 minutes in a seven-game first-round win over Houston but averaged 20.8 points on 54.3 percent shooting in the Western Conference semifinals against Minnesota while Stephen Curry was sidelined. He finished last season averaging 14.3 points and has led the Warriors in paint scoring the past two years.
The former No. 7 pick is the third restricted free agent to settle in September, joining Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) and Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls). Philadelphia guard Quentin Grimes remains unsigned.
Source: ESPN
