Warriors-Kuminga Contract Talks Stalemate Amid Trade Reluctance

The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga remain at an impasse during restricted free agency, with Kuminga seeking a larger role and a contract worth at least $25 million per season, while the Warriors have offered a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option and a no-trade clause waiver. Warriors owner Joe Lacob remains a fan of Kuminga and is reluctant to trade him without receiving substantial value, intending to keep him on the roster despite Kuminga's desire to leave, which risks internal team friction. Analyst Sam Vecenie notes that while Kuminga is talented and capable of scoring heavily when given opportunity, his inconsistent effort and reluctance to accept a smaller role have led to distrust from head coach Steve Kerr. Meanwhile, the restricted free agency market for young players like Kuminga and Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey has been complicated by the large contract extension given to Toronto Raptors' Immanuel Quickley, which has set a high benchmark and made negotiations more difficult. Giddey's negotiations with the Bulls are strained as he seeks a deal comparable to Quickley's $162 million extension, while the Bulls have offered significantly less, reflecting limited cap space and strategic caution. This market dynamic is causing some restricted free agents to consider taking qualifying offers and testing unrestricted free agency next year to gain more leverage.