The Golden State Warriors' 2024-25 season ended at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals. With Steph Curry sidelined after Game 1, the Warriors were knocked out in five games, and there were only a few positives to take away from that series.
One of those was how well Jonathan Kuminga played. Kuminga averaged 20.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game against the Timberwolves. The 22-year-old put up 26.3 points on 51.9% shooting from the field in the final three games and was easily the Warriors' most effective offensive player.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga stands on the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga stands on the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center.
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The timing of those performances was perfect for Kuminga, as he is a restricted free agent this offseason. He has put himself in a position to get a pretty good deal this summer. The big question, though, is whether it will be the Warriors giving it to him.
Kuminga hasn't always been a happy camper on the Warriors, as he hasn't quite had a fixed role since being selected with the seventh pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. Head coach Steve Kerr infamously didn't even play him for a minute in the final regular-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
That decision by Kerr seemed to signal that Kuminga's time with the Warriors might be up soon. A sign-and-trade seemed likely, but it appears there is a good chance he stays.
The Athletic's Anthony Slater reported that the “base year compensation” rule, which leads to incoming salary only counting as 50 percent of Kuminga’s outgoing salary for matching purposes, and apron issues could turn out to be a big reason why he stays.
"That combination punch (the base-year rule plus first-apron cap) significantly limits the amount of sign-and-trade opportunities that can realistically be executed. Other salaries (at full price) could be added.
"The Warriors’ front office, Kuminga’s representatives and the league are expected to explore all options into July. But team sources have been hinting that, because of these market and financial restrictions, there’s a likely world where the most obvious and prudent path is for them to bring Kuminga back and figure the rest out later."
If the Warriors do sign Kuminga to a deal, he would become trade-eligible in December. That would give them some more time to assess him and make a decision regarding his future.