Jimmy Butler just called the Warriors about Jonathan Kuminga’s contract mess
Jimmy Butler has personally reached out to the Golden State Warriors front office to ask what’s happening with Jonathan Kuminga’s ongoing contract standoff, according to NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Dalton Johnson.
“I can confidently say that Jimmy Butler has also reached out to the team and been like, ‘What’s going on here? I just wanted to know the plan,'” Johnson revealed on the latest Dubs Talk podcast.
This comes after ESPN reported that both Butler and Draymond Green have checked in with Kuminga directly as the situation drags on.
The Warriors recently upped their offer to $75.2 million over three years, but there’s a major sticking point.
Kuminga’s camp won’t accept the deal because it includes a team option for the final year, giving Golden State all the control.
Butler wants resolution before training camp
Johnson explained that Butler seems to be pushing the Warriors to make a decision quickly.
“When I’m on the contract for you, it’s about basketball. And now I think he’s saying, ‘Hey, show me that it’s all about basketball. We have two weeks until training camp. So either just pay [Kuminga] or move him. Like, there needs to be a decision.'”
The Warriors were quick to resolve Butler’s own contract situation when they acquired him from Miami in February.
Butler had been locked in a similar standoff with the Heat over an extension. When Golden State traded for him, they immediately announced a new two-year, $111 million deal.
That quick resolution seems to be influencing Butler’s perspective on Kuminga’s situation.
Other teams are circling
The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have both shown interest in snagging Kuminga through a sign-and-trade.
One of these teams reportedly offered Kuminga a four-year deal worth nearly $90 million.
Sacramento even put a conditional first-round pick and a rotation player on the table, but the Warriors rejected it. They’re holding out for an unprotected first-round pick instead.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, has made it clear they’d take the Warriors’ current offer if the team option becomes a player option.
If they can’t reach a deal, Kuminga could just sign the one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer the Warriors tendered in June.
That would give him a no-trade clause and make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
What’s next for Golden State?
Once the Kuminga situation is resolved, the Warriors plan to use their taxpayer midlevel exception to fill out the roster.
They’re eyeing veteran big man Al Horford and guards De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Seth Curry as potential additions.
Kuminga, the 7th overall pick in the 2021 draft, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game last season.
His development has been promising, which makes this contract standoff all the more frustrating for everyone involved – including, apparently, Jimmy Butler.
