The Golden State Warriors are nearing decision time over Jonathan Kuminga, and they need to get it right.
Jonathan Kuminga has stood out as a talented player, but one who struggles to fit the Golden State Warriors‘ plans.
Kuminga’s best performances came when Stephen Curry was out injured, and head coach Steve Kerr has admitted the player faces an uncertain future.
This offseason Kuminga will be a restricted free agent, when the Warriors are widely expected to sign him to a new deal, and then trade him. The Chicago Bulls are a team credited with interest.
But it may not be quite so simple for Golden State, they have been warned.
Speaking to Bay Area outlet 95.7 The Game, ESPN expert Ramona Shelburne warns how the Warriors could get it all wrong with Jonathan Kuminga.
She explains: “If the Warriors make [Jonathan Kuminga] an offer that’s less than the max or less than what he was offered last year, which I think is far more likely, does he scoff at that and then take a really long time to make a decision and tie up their cap space?
“The Kuminga question is going to hang over everything because it has the potential to get messy.”
Kuminga earned $7.6 million in the 2024-25 season and as his rookie season comes to an end, he is looking to hit the jackpot.
The Warriors can tender Kuminga with a qualifying offer of around $7.9 million which would allow them to trade him.
But as Shelburne points out, Kuminga can then drag out the situation, and make life a little more complicated for the Warriors, unclear over whether he will stay or go. This could cause them to miss out on other free agents.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy has stated he is prepared that the Kuminga situation could drag out, but of course nobody knows how long this could be for, and the actual detriment.
Golden State Warriors stalwart Draymond Green has already warned Jonathan Kuminga to keep quiet and not cause any problems for himself.
Speaking recently after comments from Steve Kerr who said he cannot fit Kuminga into his preferred rotation as a starter to play the amount of minutes the player would like, Green had some advice.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think JK should have a next interview until after free agency.”
“Don’t say nothing, free agency is happening. You got to go into free agency, he’s a restricted free agent. You got to figure out what’s going to work for you. And that’s going to happen anyway.
“[I’m] not going to sit here and argue, or go back and forth about his beliefs and I don’t think JK should either.”
