The ongoing contract negotiations between restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors could be reaching their highly anticipated conclusion given the latest update.
More news:Expected Outcome in Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga Saga Revealed
Kuminga is reportedly "strongly considering" accepting the Warriors' qualifying offer in order to become an unrestricted free agent next summer when more teams are expected to have cap space, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
Restricted free agent Cam Thomas chose a similar route for the 2025-26 season as he accepted a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer from the Brooklyn Nets. Fischer believes Kuminga will follow suit since the 22-year-old and the Warriors have not been able to come to terms on a long-term deal that both parties can agree on.
"Make no mistake: Kuminga's preference at this stage would be hashing out a longer deal that both parties can live with, but there simply hasn't been much movement in those talks," Fischer writes.
"Sources say that there has been little substantive dialogue between the two sides since it emerged weeks ago that the Warriors were pushing a two-year, $45 million deal structure in which Golden State holds a team option for Year 2 and strips Kuminga of the right to grant consent on trades in Year 1."
Kuminga had limited options heading into the 2025-26 season, essentially restricted to accepting the qualifying offer or signing the two-year team-friendly deal he was offered by Golden State.
The best-case scenario for the Warriors would of course be Kuminga agreeing to the two-year contract. The forward is the team's best trade asset, and if he were to accept the qualifying offer, it would be difficult for the Warriors to flip him at the trade deadline in February with his no-trade clause.
Last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from beyond the arc in 47 games.
Teams have serious interest in trading for Kuminga but the Warriors were very reluctant to accept any sign-and-trade offers. With the Oct. 1 qualifying offer deadline approaching, it appears Kuminga is at least closer to making a decision.
By Kuminga's 23rd birthday, the forward may very well be on the Warriors roster with intentions of testing the free agent market following the 2025-26 season.
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