Golden State’s negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga have stalled, with the franchise’s best proposal reportedly topping out at two years, $40 million.
Marc Stein reported on The Stein Line that Kuminga’s camp has not accepted the short-term offer and continues to explore sign-and-trade possibilities.
The 22-year-old forward remains unsigned with less than two months before training camp opens.
Kuminga holds a $7.9 million qualifying offer from the Warriors, which he can sign at any time before October 1.
Accepting that deal would lock him into a one-year contract with a built-in no-trade clause, giving him rare leverage as a restricted free agent.
Despite internal belief in Kuminga’s long-term upside, Golden State has shown reluctance to offer a longer-term or higher-value deal.
Fred Katz of The Athletic reported that the Warriors have looked into sign-and-trade scenarios but have made little progress.
The biggest complication lies in “base-year compensation” rules that impact salary matching in potential deals, limiting flexibility.
League sources told The Athletic that Sacramento and Phoenix remain among the most aggressive suitors.
However, Golden State is reportedly holding out for a first-round pick in any return package.
That creates a roadblock for the Suns, who lack a movable first-round selection under current cap constraints.
Even with interest around the league, teams are hesitant to commit significant assets without knowing if Kuminga would re-sign.
One Western Conference executive described Kuminga’s value gap between contract expectations and trade demand as the widest among this year’s restricted free agents.
Some league officials suggested alternatives such as a two-year, $45 million deal or a three-year, $53.5 million agreement with a player option to bridge the gap.
Those structures could help Golden State preserve future cap flexibility while retaining a tradeable contract.
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds last season, showing growth after the All-Star break with increased minutes and efficiency.
