Less than a month before the start of training camp, the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga still haven't agreed on a new deal. And, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson, they are unlikely too.
He reports that the Warriors aren't budging on wanting Kuminga to sign a two-year $45 million deal, while Kuminga wants a player option on the second year. That might seem like a trivial disagreement, and on the surface it is, but it is more complicated than that.
The Warriors want him back on a two-year deal, giving them the option to trade him without him having a no-trade clause. Obviously, Kuminga doesn't want to be traded to just anywhere.
He also wants the option to be able to leave in free agency next summer. Without the Warriors meeting him halfway, Kuminga could do the unthinkable.
The Warriors are playing a dangerous game with Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga may end up taking the qualifying offer worth $7.9 million, which would be a disaster for the Warriors. Why? Well, by him taking the qualifying offer, he would return on a one-year deal with an implied no-trade clause and could become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
That means that Golden State would almost certainly lose him for nothing. Especially with several teams expected to have max cap space next summer. That is why it's so surprising that the Warriors haven't simply caved by giving him a player option.
They would be in the same position next summer. But at least they could potentially keep him if Kuminga doesn't feel as though he could make more than $23 million in 2026 free agency.
The Warriors have a last-ditch attempt to keep Jonathan Kuminga
The Warriors could try to up their offer, giving him a two-year deal worth at least $50 million, if it means that he'd take a contract without a player option. That would give Kuminga significantly more money and give the Warriors the opportunity to trade him without losing him for nothing.
However, at this point in the summer, if they were going to raise their offer, then they probably would have by now. That puts the brunt of the Kuminga drama squarely on the Warriors.
All told, Kuminga appears willing to take the qualifying offer. The Warriors clearly don't want that to happen but seem unwilling to stop it from getting to that point.