Jonathan Kuminga’s future with the Golden State Warriors is approaching a critical point. The 22-year-old forward is weighing whether to lock in long-term security or test the market for a larger payday.
Golden State and the restricted free agent remain locked in negotiations, with training camp only weeks away. What initially looked like a potential sign-and-trade scenario has shifted, as multiple suitors failed to land Kuminga.
At this stage, he is expected to begin the 2025-26 season in a Warriors uniform, though the final terms of his contract are unresolved.
Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to determine if he will sign the one-year qualifying offer, a move that would make him an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Warriors, hoping to avoid that path, have raised their proposal.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently extended a three-year, $75.2 million offer with a team option in the third year. The contract guarantees $48.3 million over the first two seasons, putting his annual salary on par with Josh Giddey’s four-year, $100 million deal with the Chicago Bulls.
Kuminga had been pushing for around $30 million per season, but the $25 million average value in this deal is the closest Golden State has come to meeting his request. Reports suggest the Warriors could view this contract as a potential trade asset during the 2025-26 campaign.
From Kuminga’s perspective, the choice is complex. Accepting the deal secures significant earnings in a market where uncertainty always lingers.
Former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas cautioned him against holding out, saying he should not “lose $90 million trying to get $10 million.” Passing on the offer would mean betting on further growth, staying healthy, and maintaining value, all risky variables for a young player still establishing himself.
For the Warriors, the decision has equal weight. A signed extension would stabilize their forward depth and maintain trade flexibility. A rejection could open the door for Kuminga to walk away for nothing next offseason.