Over a month into free agency, there`s no sign of a breakthrough in contract negotiations between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors, with their positions seemingly unchanged since July 1st.
Despite the ongoing contract stalemate, the Warriors have reportedly abandoned the prospect of a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard indicates that Golden State has no intention of trading Kuminga this offseason and expects him to be on their roster for the upcoming season, whether under a new agreement or the qualifying offer.
Kawakami reported, “A Warriors source I consulted on Sunday confirmed: Kuminga will not be traded this summer. He is set to return to the Warriors` roster for the season`s start, either by signing the team`s proposed offer or accepting the $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.”
This development isn`t entirely unexpected. While the Warriors have consistently shown reluctance to trade Kuminga throughout the summer, their current stance marks an escalation from mere reluctance to an outright refusal. This public declaration could be a strategy to prompt teams like the Sacramento Kings to sweeten their offers, perhaps by including an unprotected draft pick. However, Kawakami suggests that a significant factor is ownership`s continued belief in Kuminga. Joe Lacob, the owner, reportedly maintains faith in Kuminga`s potential and is unwilling to trade him simply to resolve the current situation. Should no team meet Golden State`s valuation for Kuminga, they prefer to keep him on the roster, even if dissatisfied, rather than trading him for a perceived undervaluation.
Yet, despite this strong conviction in Kuminga`s talent, the Warriors are not offering him a contract commensurate with a player projected for star potential. Their standing offer remains a two-year, $45 million deal, with the second year being a team option. This proposal also requires Kuminga to relinquish his implicit no-trade clause, which typically applies when only one year of a contract is guaranteed.
It appears improbable that either party will alter their position before the October 1st deadline for Kuminga to accept the qualifying offer. That date will likely reveal whether either side is bluffing about their `hard line.` Until then, a sudden trade involving Kuminga is not anticipated, and Warriors fans will have to remain patient, still awaiting significant free agency moves.
