The contract negotiation continues in the first six weeks of Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency.
Since the summer is about to end, the NBA teams must complete their roster, especially with the Golden State Warriors.
Although Warriors owner Joe Lacob made his presence known in mid-August to show how they want Kuminga to stay, showing at least a team player relationship, it was a significant loss for the franchise in the offseason to divert their time into this contract negotiation, when it should have been into their missing pieces on acquiring their superstar Stephen Curry for his fifth title.
Hence, it prevented them from obtaining stars like veteran Al Horford and defensive anchor Gary Payton II, which led to compromises due to this loop negotiation.
Recent reports
According to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, Kuminga seeks $40 million per year to stay on the Warriors’ ground, as he declined $75.2 million offered by the general manager, Mike Dunleavy.
McMahon emphasized that Kuminga has no plans to stay with Golden State, based on the recent development in the negotiations.
“He’s miserable,” McMahon said (h/t HoopsHype). “He doesn’t want to be in Golden State. He knows they don’t want him. He doesn’t want to maximize his earnings, he wants to get in a situation where he feels like he can thrive. Whether you agree or disagree about his ability, his talent, he wants to go find out. He’s effed around long enough, now he wants to find out.”
However, since Dunleavy turned down these demands, Lacob has maintained his trust in Kuminga as their franchise’s future, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania.
Lacob even declined to include Kuminga in the proposed trade from Chicago for Alex Caruso during the previous season. In essence, there was a sentiment for Kuminga that Lacob would step in to give the financial pledge that could meet them halfway.
As the owner was involved, even if the demand could be given to Kuminga, the specific rotation decisions will still depend on the four-time champion coach Steve Kerr, who will be given the same power he has always had in his 12th season with the Golden State.
