Jonathan Kuminga’s agent denies Warriors ever offered $150 million deal
Amid growing tension between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors, his agent Aaron Turner is setting the record straight about last summer’s contract talks.
Turner appeared on “The Hoop Collective” podcast and told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Anthony Slater that the Warriors “didn’t want to do a deal last summer” – directly contradicting rumors that Kuminga turned down a five-year, $150 million extension.
“He would have taken that,” Turner said about the rumored offer.
Last summer was the first time the 22-year-old forward became eligible for a long-term extension.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported in August that Kuminga’s team was looking for a “full max extension” worth around $35 million per year.
Slater later reported in November that the Warriors had only been willing to go as high as $30 million annually.
The situation gets more interesting when you look at what other players from Kuminga’s draft class received. Jalen Suggs and Jalen Johnson both signed extensions in the $150 million range last offseason.
What’s actually on the table?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Slater, Golden State has presented Kuminga with three different offers:
• A three-year, $75.2 million deal with a team option for the third season (guaranteeing $48.3 million)
• A two-year, $45 million deal with a team option for year two
• A three-year, $54 million deal without options
Kuminga has rejected all three proposals.
The sticking point? Kuminga wants a player option instead of a team option, giving him more control over his future. The Warriors haven’t budged on this demand.
“If [the Warriors] want to win now, if you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly who is a big part of this team, we believe, moving forward, you give him the player option,” Turner explained.
He acknowledged the team’s perspective too: “You do lose a little of that trade value [giving that up]. But if it’s about the here and now, you give him that. You don’t get a perfect deal, but you get a pretty good deal and he gets to feel respected.”
Kuminga could sign the qualifying offer instead, which would cost him over $40 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. But this would give him a no-trade clause and make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
He has until October 1 to sign the qualifying offer, though the deadline can be extended if both sides agree.
