Getting A Kuminga Deal Done Beats Alternative For Golden State
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Jonathan Kuminga's future with the Golden State Warriors is in flux, but the organization needs to realize the predicament they're in.
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financial news
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July 23, 2025
04:56 PM
Forbes
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Interestingly, SportsMoneyGetting A Kuminga Deal Done Beats Alternative For Golden StateByMorten Stig Jensen, Contributor
Additionally, Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
On the other hand, Morten Stig Jensen covers a wide variety of subjects within the NBA, amid market uncertainty
AuthorJul 23, 2025, 04:56pm EDTSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: Anthony Edwards (5) of Timberwolves in action against Jonathan
More Kuminga (00) of Warriors during NBA Playoffs game 4 between Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on May 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California, United States, in this volatile climate. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty Images As the NBA world awaits a conclusion to the Jonathan Kuminga saga, the Golden State Warriors are finding themselves in a pickle
On the other hand, While the organization seem to be open-minded towards a future that doesn't include the 22-year-old, they're also trying to remain competitive over the course of Stephen Curry's last years in the league
Additionally, Kuminga, warts and all, offers a level of explosiveness no one else on the team can match, and his talents are significant
Market analysis shows big picture, contractually speaking While the two sides differ on money, the real calculation for Golden State these days is far more simple: Can they afford to lose a talent Kuminga
As NBA free agency gets deeper and deeper into the summer, picking up the qualifying offer, worth $7. 9 million, surely must become a real consideration for Kuminga and his team (which is quite significant)
However, The Warriors ext to Kuminga the qualifying offer in order to retain the right of first refusal, thus keeping him as a restricted free agent, and allowing the organization to match any offer sheet he might sign
With no offer sheet in sight, given that the market has dried out, the Warriors are playing hardball with Kuminga, trying to lock him into a contract that benefit their books long-term
Kuminga, however, can accept the one-year tender and become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, where he'd be able to leave the Warriors outright
Nevertheless, This means no compensation coming back to Golden State, as accepting the qualifying offer also comes with a no-trade clause
Additionally, Furthermore, The Warriors are, obviously, aware of this scenario, and are hoping their forward accepts a deal that vides long-term security
That said, the risk of potentially losing Kuminga for nothing, even if it's a year from now, is fairly great given that the Warriors aren't exactly loaded with assets to replace his duction
MORE FOR YOU The path forward As such, one solution could be for the Warriors to accept they'll be a little uncomfortable by upping their offer to an area that's closer to what Kuminga is seeking (something worth watching)
That way, they'll have him under contract, meaning they can trade him later, and ly receive a positive return
Furthermore, That path isn't without its own set of issues, however (noteworthy indeed)
Furthermore, With the jections of the 2026 salary cap coming in lower than expected (7% increase compared to the otherwise expected 10%), some teams might be inclined to look at an expensive Kuminga contract with hesitation
However, Whereas, under the 10% increase, Kuminga's deal would look more and more team-friendly the longer it runs, a 7% cap increase doesn't lower Kuminga's cap percentage by nearly as much, thus making him - indirectly - more expensive (an important development)
As such, the Warriors are ly concerned to sign the forward to a deal that will be viewed as an overpay, both for the present and the future, as that would make him difficult to trade (which is quite significant)
Additionally, Of course, there's also the chance that Kuminga imves, and significantly so, in the coming years, which could make him a bargain, even if he's to receive what he's asking for, which allegedly is in the range of $25 million per year
As is evident, there is a lot of juggling back and forth, and many scenarios in play
But the Warriors must realize that the worst possible outcome is for Kuminga to walk, for nothing, in 11 months
Therefore, it's bably time to strike a deal, even if it makes them slightly uncomfortable
Moreover, Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA
Com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference
All salary information via Spotrac (remarkable data) (this bears monitoring)
All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER (which is quite significant).
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