Jonathan Kuminga turning down Golden State’s latest contract offer is more than a simple negotiation tactic—it’s a clear sign he doesn’t want to be there. At some point, the Warriors’ front office will have to stop pretending this relationship is salvageable and start asking the difficult question: When is it time to move on?
The Kings Rumors and Free Agency Reality
There were reports earlier in the offseason that the Sacramento Kings had interest in Kuminga. Because he’s a restricted free agent, if the Kings had put an offer sheet on the table and Kuminga signed it, Golden State would have had the right to match and keep him.
But here’s the real problem—the Warriors are taking advantage of the fact that most NBA teams don’t have the cap space to make a serious offer. Any deal from the outside would likely come in lower than what Golden State has already put on the table, putting Kuminga in a tough spot.
The Latest Offer
Golden State’s latest proposal reportedly came in at $75.2 million over 3 years, with a team option for the third year. The Warriors even made a backup offer of a fully guaranteed 3-year, $54 million contract without the option attached.
So, it’s not as if the team hasn’t tried. These are solid offers, especially for a player who has yet to prove he’s a consistent cornerstone. But Kuminga still turned them down, signaling that this isn’t about money—it’s about fit and desire.
Not a Franchise Changer
The Warriors are holding onto Kuminga like he’s some franchise centerpiece. He’s not. He’s the third or fourth option on a roster built around Stephen Curry, and while he’s shown flashes of growth, he’s far from being a player who changes the identity of a franchise.
So what’s the point of keeping him around if he doesn’t want to be there? At this stage, it feels less like basketball and more like Golden State flexing its power simply because it can.
The Kerr Factor
Head coach Steve Kerr has struggled to consistently fit Kuminga into certain lineups. That usually means a player isn’t a good fit for the system. In most cases, teams move on. Instead, the Warriors doubled down, holding out hope that Kuminga will eventually become the star they believe he can be.
But the writing was on the wall a long time ago. The tension between Kerr and Kuminga was evident when he started racking up DNPs (Did Not Play) despite being healthy. That’s not the kind of player-coach relationship that suddenly gets fixed by a new contract.
The Missed Trade Window
If the Warriors truly believed Kuminga wasn’t a long-term fit, they should have traded him when his value was at its highest. Now, they’re stuck in limbo—clinging to the idea of what he might become while ignoring the reality of what he is today.
At this point, keeping Kuminga isn’t about building a championship roster. It’s about control. And for a franchise with limited years left on Stephen Curry’s prime, wasting time on a player who doesn’t want to be there could be costly.