Kuminga skips Warriors minicamp amid contract standoff
Jonathan Kuminga was noticeably absent from a team workout minicamp organized by teammate Jimmy Butler in San Diego, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.
The 22-year-old restricted free agent was the only player from last season’s Warriors squad missing from the voluntary workouts.
His absence comes as no surprise given the ongoing contract negotiations between Kuminga and Golden State.
Without a contract in place, Kuminga has zero obligation to attend team functions. Showing up would’ve also put him at risk of injury that could hurt his earning potential.
The talented forward’s rookie deal – worth $24.85 million over four years – expired at the end of last season.
Warriors have made multiple offers
Golden State hasn’t been sitting idle. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Charania, the team has presented Kuminga with three different contract proposals.
The most generous offer was a three-year, $75.2 million deal with a team option for the final year. This would guarantee him $48.3 million over the first two seasons.
The Warriors also offered a two-year, $45 million contract with a team option on the second year, and a three-year, $54 million deal without options.
Kuminga rejected all three offers.
The sticking point: Player control
The contract standoff has dragged into September primarily because of one key issue: player options versus team options.
Kuminga wants the Warriors to convert their proposed team option into a player option, giving him more control over his future. So far, Golden State has refused to include a player option in any of their offers.
If Kuminga decides to sign the qualifying offer instead, he’d be leaving more than $40 million in guaranteed money on the table over the next two seasons.
But that move would come with two significant benefits: an automatic no-trade clause and unrestricted free agency next summer.
He has until October 1st to sign the qualifying offer, though that deadline can be extended if both sides agree.
Kuminga, selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, showed real promise last season. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes per game across 47 appearances.
The young forward started 10 games and has flashed the kind of athleticism and two-way potential that makes him an important piece of Golden State’s future plans.
