If the Warriors really wanted Jonathan Kuminga off their books as quickly possible, they could have taken a rare--but not entirely unprecedented--step this weekend and simply declined to offer him the required qualifying offer. Without it, Kuminga would become an unrestricted free agent when the process officially opens on June 30.
But by offering it to Kuminga, the Warriors keep his rights in place, and maintain the right to match any offer he gets from teams in the coming days and weeks. In all, it is a $7.9 million formal contract offer being given to Kuminga, which he is, obviously,not going to sign.
He does have that option, though. It has happened in rare instances that a restricted free agent signs the qualifying offer, which in Kuminga's case is a one-year deal for that $7.9 million, then hits unrestricted free agency the following summer.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)
© Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Miles Bridges of the Hornets, for example, took that path in 2023, after accusations of domestic violence surfaced against him. His qualifying offer was also $7.9 million, and he then signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Hornets the following summer.
There is a very, very low percentage chance that Kuminga will take that path with the Warriors. He will either sign a new contract to stay in Golden State or agree to a sign-and-trade deal that sends him elsewhere.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy has said he would like to get a deal done with Kuminga--either a contract or a trade--quickly.
:I think we're in a good spot with it, honestly. We had the ability to bring him back. He's restricted," Dunleavy told reporters this week.
"I think there will be good dialogue. I'd like to figure something out sooner than later. That would be great. But I also acknowledge with restricted free agency these things can drag out a little bit and take some time.I think we feel pretty comfortable with who JK is as a player and what he can do for our organization, and we'll continue -- it's a main priority going into free agency."
Kuminga, in his fourth season with the Warriors, averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds last season.