Golden State’s Kuminga wants $224 million, but experts say $155 million makes more sense
Jonathan Kuminga is still pushing for a massive payday from the Warriors – a five-year deal worth $224 million. But ESPN’s Bobby Marks thinks a more realistic number is around $155 million over five years, which would help Golden State stay under the luxury tax.
“Because of the expiring contracts of De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney, an extension for Kuminga has Golden State below the luxury tax next season,” Marks explained. “Kuminga would also be a restricted free agent, with Golden State having the right to match an offer sheet from an opposing team.”
The 22-year-old forward, picked 7th overall in the 2021 draft, has had a rocky relationship with the team. His playing time has been up and down, and his role has changed constantly.
The Warriors aren’t giving up on keeping him, though sources say a sign-and-trade is still possible.
Kuminga will get a $7.9 million qualifying offer by June 29, after which he has several options: sign with Golden State, sign an offer sheet with another team (which the Warriors can match), or pursue a sign-and-trade.
This season, Kuminga put up decent numbers – 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in about 24 minutes per game. But his shooting wasn’t great. He hit career lows from the field (45.4%) and from three-point range (30.5%).
Things got weird in the playoffs.
Coach Steve Kerr basically benched him for multiple games in the first-round series against Houston. Kuminga only got back in the rotation after Steph Curry hurt his hamstring in the second round against Minnesota.
When he finally got his chance, he showed what he can do. In those last four playoff games, he averaged an impressive 24.3 points while shooting 55.4% from the field and 38.9% from three.
Why This Gets Complicated
The Warriors can match any offer Kuminga gets in free agency, but there are some tricky financial rules that make a sign-and-trade difficult.
Golden State is already spending big money on their stars. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler will make a combined $139.6 million next season alone. That doesn’t leave much room for Kuminga’s demands.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic broke down why a sign-and-trade might not work well for the Warriors:
“If Kuminga’s next deal starts at $30 million, his next team absorbs it as such, but the Warriors would be looking at a $15 million incoming match,” Slater wrote. “They could exceed it by 125% ($18.75 million in this scenario), but if they were to take a dollar more than the theoretical match ($15 million in this scenario), they’d be hard-capped at the first apron.”
In plain English: the Warriors would either have to take back less talent than Kuminga is worth, or they’d trigger strict salary cap rules that would limit their options for the entire season.
That’s why Slater thinks re-signing Kuminga is probably the “most obvious and prudent path” for Golden State.
One thing seems certain – GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and owner Joe Lacob won’t let Kuminga walk away for nothing. They’ll either pay him or trade him, but they’re not letting that talent leave without getting something in return.
