Fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga won’t sign a rookie scale extension with the Warriors before Monday’s deadline, according to reports from Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews of ESPN and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
The two sides have discussed a possible extension since Kuminga became eligible in July, but never gained traction, per ESPN. With no deal in place, the 22-year-old remains on track to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025.
The Warriors and the forward were “never all that close” in their negotiations, according to Slater, who says Kuminga might’ve accepted a deal below his maximum but that Golden State didn’t increase its offer beyond something close to $30MM per year. A max deal would’ve been worth in the neighborhood of $43-45MM annually.
Kuminga enjoyed a breakout season in 2023/24, averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on .529/.321/.746 shooting in 74 appearances (26.3 MPG).
Kuminga enjoyed his best stretch of the year shortly after a report in January indicated he had lost faith in head coach Steve Kerr. The two men reportedly met to clear the air and Kuminga began playing a more significant role. From January 12 through March 26, he averaged 20.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.7 APG on .547/.377/.778 shooting in 34 games before being hampered by knee tendinitis near the end of the season.
Charania reported last week that Kuminga is comfortable with the idea of betting on himself in a contract year. And while the Warriors have statistics that favorably compare his growth so far to that of stars like Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, and Jaylen Brown, they want to see how he continues to develop in 2024/25, sources tell ESPN. Golden State is also continuing to monitor his fit with Kerr, per Charania and Andrews.
After starting 46 of his 74 regular season outings last season, Kuminga is expected to be in the starting five for Wednesday’s opener vs. Portland, sources tell Slater. Team sources have described starting as “important” to the forward, according to Charania and Andrews, though he has told ESPN that he’d be OK with starting or coming off the bench.
Kuminga will earn approximately $7.6MM in the final year of his rookie scale contract and will remain trade-eligible this season before reaching restricted free agency next July.
The Warriors reached a three-year, $39MM deal with their other rookie scale extension candidate, Moses Moody, on Sunday.
The Poole rule for the warriors make the player earn it with back to back good years.
Exactly, Kuminga winning a title this year will get him that max.
Kawhi, Brown, is extremely flattering. Siakam may be a bit of a stretch, too. If this is how Golden State feels why so far apart in negotiations? I do think Siakam is someone Kuminga should model his game off, though.
They’re probably not sure that the attitude matches the physical gifts. Show me first because the first 3 years you didn’t.
I don’t know this to be true but it has to be what the Warriors are thinking especially after Jordan Poole. It’s possible he’s one of those guys who lets his athleticism carry him and before season 3 he didn’t put the work in? Just guessing on my part.
People seem to forget that Poole only had one good season. They were going to cut him in season 2. They sent him to Santa Cruz to work on his game.
Nrg82 , numbers show that Kuminga is ahead of those players at this stage. Did you know that?
link to goldenstateofmind.com
Maybe you should try reading comprehension instead of trying to trash the Warriors. They are comparing Kuminga’s game to anyone. They are talking about his growth and development as a player. Golden State is looking at how sustainable it is.
In my opinion this is okay. Match the market next summer if you want. In the meantime you’re getting a guy who’s going to ball out in a contract year.
He’ll do everything necessary. Be a good teammate, Excel on the floor, everything that’s needed. This is not a bad thing at all.
Gary, this is exactly what I said I wanted to happen when you asked me a while back: 1. Lock Moody up for pennies on the dollar as his star is rising too quickly. 2. Wait and see on JK, if he continues to improve or wins a title this year, give him the max then.
Love this team. Going to be a hilariously fun season! GSW is ba-ack!!!
arc89 , do you understand why it’s incorrect to say that the Warriors have not decided whether to sign Kuminga (and why this has nothing to do with Jordan Poole)? If you do understand and you don’t care, fine. Read no further.
GSW owns the rights to Kuminga. Not signing him would be giving them away for nothing, like lighting $200M in cash on fire. Unless he’s injured, Jonathan Kuminga will be signed by the Warriors, his value set by other team’s offers, at the end of the season.
There is no precedent (other than Lonzo Ball and the Pels, where there was concern about his injury history) for NBA teams not signing a highly valued extension-eligible player after the 4th year.
Signing JK doesn’t necessarily mean they want to keep him. If they don’t want to keep him, signing him means they can trade him.
It’s as simple as this in all cases (including Kuminga, Jalen Johnson, Alperen Sengun, etc): the player believes that his value will be significantly more after the season than the team’s current offer. And the team is willing to bet on the opposite.
Teams in the past used to try and f*** with each other more on RFAs back when more teams had cap space where a team could try and offer him a 2+1 with a max trade kicker so the GSW get him on a worse deal when they match, but it ties up your cap space till FA is pretty much over so teams are very unlikely to do it.
This does set up a situation where if they dont feel Kuminga fits or brings the team the value his market contract to this team they could sign and trade him to a team like DET/CHA for a player that fits better and picks.
@ Aristotle numbers? Please. Kuminga hasn’t shown a glimpse of Brown and kawhi on the defensive end. A golden state link? No thanks. Siakam is and has pretty much always been extremely versatile on the defensive end. Both ends, really. Far better rebounder, too. Kawhi, Brown and Siakam got paid off achievements already made while still being young. Kuminga is getting paid on promise….bit different.
You should try some reading comprehension. Why live off of the fumes of opinion? Learn something. The website just compares the growth of Kuminga to those comps. And he is on a similar track. Also, Kuminga is younger than those others. Learning something is nothing to be afraid of.
Lmao….just join Davey and Aristotle in saying you think warriors are winning the lot. Back up your mouth or stop talking. Maybe your comprehension is lacking? All those guys accomplished more individually and in their team environment at a young age. Got paid off the back of it. Kuminga is getting paid off possible potential. Doesn’t have the all round game as any of those guys at same age. Give him the Max for all I care. Good luck with that.
Davey J’s post is rather funny. If Moody is a rising star, why would his Agent “lock him up” for an extended period of time? If his longterm value is going to rise, why not go year-to-year. It sounds like his Reps don’t have much confidence in him.
Said the same thing yesterday. He’s basically arguing Moody and/or his agent are complete morons for taking this extension. That might even be an understatement.
Name a stronger 11 from 1-11 than Steph, Dray, Loon, Kuminga, Moody, JacksonDavis, Buddy, Podz, Melton, Wiggs and Slomo. Waters just was informed he won’t be in the opening season rotations, but I dont see anyone of that group getting cut.
I dont think GSW will use a 10 man rotation this year, it looks more like 11.
Also, Kerr just announced Steph will be on a 32 MPG limit for the early part of the year unless its late and close, I stated 33 in my “controversial” mins breakdown (that wasnt controversial at all, its just factual). So Gary, that 1 minute can go to Buddy instead of Moody so Buddy plays 1 more minute than Moody, lol
Overall mixed emotions because we all dont kmow what this means or Warriors are thinking.
1) Are Warriors just trying to motivate him to earn max?
2) Do the Warriors want to be remain flexible for potential mid season trade which is a vote of no confidence
3) Warriors either did a poor job of drafting or developing 1st round picks. There is no way to get around this. Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody, Baldwin, Poole, etc. Who is the last 1st that made it???? Looney?
4) Players who received extensions like Suggs, Sengun, Johnson, etc. All these guys WOULD NOT have received those extensions if they were drafted by Warriors.
5) Maybe it’s the price you pay for being a contender or dynasty but very poor culture of developing or empowering young players. I am still not sure if they should have given up on Poole even though he is playing trrribly in WA.
6) What’s the future?? Will it be Kuminga’s team? Will Curry really retire as Warrior? Dray? Will there be a blockbuster trade? No easy answers and future looks very shaky.