Jonathan Kuminga, the young forward for the Golden State Warriors, will be signing his 1-year $7.9 million qualifying offer. He wants to see the team improve their current contract proposals. Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, announced the decision first to ESPN. He called the Kuminga situation highly unusual and said that Kuminga has rejected all the Warriors existing offers up to now. The situation highlights a crucial moment in Kuminga’s career as he navigates potential deals amidst ongoing negotiations.
The Warriors have reportedly made several contract offers to Kuminga. One possible route is a two-year agreement worth $45 million with a team option in year two, or it could be a non-optional three-year pact at $54 million. The richest proposal is currently three years and $75.2 million, with a team option on the third season. Turner underscored that Kuminga is not playing around. He still wants to select his own place to go, in defiance of these tempting proposals.
Kuminga’s current situation is complicated further by the Warriors’ request for him to waive his no-trade clause. If he accepts the qualifying offer, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. This move will give him an automatic no-trade clause. This decision might end up costing you more than $40 million in guaranteed funds. That’s the amount you risk losing in the next two seasons.
Besides the Warriors’ offers, several other teams are expressing interest in Kuminga. The Sacramento Kings have reportedly already offered a three-year, $63-66 million offer before even negotiating. In the other corner, the Phoenix Suns are coming in hot with a max-level, four-year, $80-$88 million offer. Kuminga recently met with Kings’ general manager Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie, signaling serious consideration of the Kings’ proposal.
Kuminga’s role at the Warriors is deeply disputed as well. If he remains with the team, it’s likely that he fills a bench role. He’ll be looking up at proven veterans like Draymond Green and Al Horford. Turner noted that Kuminga will have to play differently in year five. This adjustment might need to come from the varied ways opposing teams may decide to deploy him.
Turner articulated the complexities involved in these negotiations, stating, “He wants to pick where he wants to go. So the QO is real for sure.” He added that if Kuminga chooses the qualifying offer, there could be significant upside for the player in the future.
“We’ve talked about that. You’re not getting traded. You’re gonna have unrestricted free agency (next summer). People are gonna say, ‘Well, Aaron, there not gonna be 10 or 12 teams (with cap space).’ Fine, there’ll be six teams with cap space for the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market. So there’s a lot of upside.” – Aaron Turner
Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob took proactive steps to address this situation by flying to Miami in August to meet with Kuminga in an attempt to resolve the ongoing contract dispute. Turner recalled that they had conversations about how they could use Kuminga and him in the team’s plans going forward.
“If (the Warriors) want to win now, if you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly who is a big part of this team, we believe, moving forward, you give him the player option.” – Aaron Turner
Turner, for his part, reiterated how serious Kuminga is about doing what it takes to win with the Warriors. He conveyed that during a meeting with Lacob, Kuminga expressed his willingness to support star player Steph Curry and focus on winning.
“(Kuminga) said this in the meeting with Joe (Lacob). ‘I’m all in to help Steph. Let’s send him out. We should be focusing on winning right now and I’m fine with that.’” – Aaron Turner
Turner did not downplay the benefits of Lock securing a full player option in a new pact. He thinks that would be better for both parties in the long run. To the former, he offered the idea that through proper treatment and a re-implemented development plan, Kuminga would be persuaded to stick with the team long-term.
“Two years from now, if you want to keep him, you’ll have his bird rights (even if you give him a player option).” – Aaron Turner
As negotiations are still ongoing, it is unclear how this will play out. The Warriors not only have pressure from Kuminga’s ambitions at hand, but from teams across the league looking to get their hands on Golden State’s prized young asset.
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