San Francisco, CA — Agent Aaron Turner said Jonathan Kuminga is prepared to accept his $7.9 million qualifying offer if contract talks with the Golden State Warriors fail to produce a player option, keeping the 21-year-old forward a restricted free agent.
Speaking on ESPN’s “Hoop Collective” podcast, Turner called the one-year qualifying offer “a real option,” noting it would make Kuminga an unrestricted free agent next summer. “He wants to pick where he wants to go,” Turner said. “So the QO is real for sure.”
Golden State’s latest proposal is a three-year, $75.2 million contract with a team option in the third season, guaranteeing $48.3 million over the first two years. Turner said Kuminga will not agree to another team-controlled deal. “If you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly, you give him the player option,” he added.
Turner argued the qualifying offer carries significant upside. “You’re not getting traded. You’re going to have unrestricted free agency. There’ll be six teams with cap space for the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market.”
Interest from Rival Teams
Turner confirmed Kuminga has spoken with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. Sacramento offered a three-year, $63 million contract with a player option, while Phoenix discussed a four-year deal in the $80–88 million range. Neither club reached a trade agreement with Golden State.
Role Concerns in Golden State
Staying with the Warriors would likely mean competing for minutes with Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and, potentially, Al Horford. “No guarantees he starts any games,” Turner said, adding that Golden State’s offense limits Kuminga’s mid-range opportunities.
Possible Shorter Deal
Turner said his client would consider a two-year contract if the Warriors included the no-trade clause that accompanies a player option. “Two years from now, if you want to keep him, you’ll have his Bird rights,” he said. “Treat him well and maybe you keep him.”
With NBA media day less than two weeks away, negotiations appear headed for a decisive stretch. If no agreement is reached, Kuminga could play the 2024-25 season on the qualifying offer and enter unrestricted free agency in July 2025.
Source: Hoops Wire
