Kuminga-Warriors Contract Talks Remain Stalled as Qualifying Offer Looms
kuminga-warriors-contract-talks-remain-stalled
Golden State and forward Jonathan Kuminga reopened contract negotiations over the past week, but the sides continue to disagree on the structure of a new deal, ESPN’s Anthony Slater said Friday on NBA Today.
According to Slater, Kuminga’s representatives want a contract that establishes the 22-year-old as a key piece of the franchise rather than a trade asset. The Warriors have reportedly offered two years and $45 million with a team option, an arrangement the player views as positioning him as “a pawn” in potential mid-season deals.
Slater noted that Kuminga would consider a three-year pact or a contract containing a player option, but Golden State has been reluctant to extend that level of commitment. As talks drag on, the former No. 7 overall pick is signaling a willingness to forgo the $14 million he is slated to earn in 2025-26 and instead sign his $8 million qualifying offer, which carries a no-trade clause and would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The unresolved situation is also affecting the Warriors’ offseason plans. Several free-agent targets, including veteran center Al Horford, are waiting for clarity before finalizing potential agreements with the club, Slater said.
With training camps opening in late September and restricted free agents facing an October 1 deadline to accept qualifying offers, both sides could let the standoff continue for several more weeks. “August is easier to say, ‘We’ll get to you when we get to you,’” Slater explained. “September is where it could get a little bit dicier.”
Source: HoopsRumors
