Jonathan Kuminga will not be at Golden State Warriors Media Day as his contract impasse with the franchise continues, according to report from ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.
The restricted free agent did not travel to San Francisco this weekend and will miss Monday’s media availability. Discussions between Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kuminga’s agent Aaron Turner on Sunday produced no progress toward a new agreement before the team’s first practice on Tuesday.
Golden State has left three offers on the table. Those include two years at $45 million and three years at $75.2 million, both with team options in the final season. The only proposal without a team option is a three-year, $54 million contract. Kuminga has resisted deals that give the team flexibility unless the overall money increases, while his side has pushed for a player option instead.
The qualifying offer of $7.9 million remains Kuminga’s strongest leverage. If he accepts it by the Wednesday deadline, he would gain a no-trade clause and enter unrestricted free agency in 2026, when more than 10 teams are projected to have cap space. Taking that route, however, would mean sacrificing $15.3 million in guaranteed money next season and put Golden State at risk of losing its 2021 lottery pick for no return.
Sign-and-trade talks with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns remain dormant, leaving the Warriors with few options to resolve the standoff. The team has also delayed much of its offseason roster construction due to the uncertainty.
Golden State reached a multiyear commitment with veteran center Al Horford on Sunday, but his contract cannot be finalized until the Kuminga situation is settled. The same applies to the agreements with Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton, whose practice availability is still uncertain. The organization has also held discussions with Seth Curry about a potential deal, but cap flexibility hinges on how Kuminga’s contract is structured.
The 22-year-old forward is coming off a career-best season, averaging 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. Despite his progress, his role under coach Steve Kerr has fluctuated, fueling his desire for greater clarity and security. Turner has communicated that Kuminga views a player option as a sign of goodwill after what his camp has described as years of uncertainty regarding his place in the rotation.
Training camp is set to begin Tuesday, but the Warriors could enter it without several roster pieces in place. With the deadline for the qualifying offer looming, both sides face increased pressure to resolve one of the NBA’s most closely watched contract disputes.
