By Valentina Martinez
Copyright newsweek
The Golden State Warriors know restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga is their best trade asset, but the team has been unwilling to accept any sign-and-trades.More news: Kevin Durant Reveals Why He’s Upset With SunsESPN insider Anthony Slater and Shams Charania revealed Golden State turned down a considerable offer for Kuminga.”The Warriors had shut down sign-and-trades, steadfast all offseason in declining frameworks of … Malik Monk and a future first-round pick from the Sacramento Kings, sources said,” Slater and Charania write.Both the Suns and Kings have been willing to do what the Warriors won’t — include a player option with their deals.”Phoenix (four years, $80 to $88 million) and Sacramento (three years, $63 to $66 million) have attached player options to their proposed deals and pitched the starting power forward job, sources said,” the ESPN insiders added.The player option remains an important issue in the negotiations as Golden State attempted to entice Kuminga with more guaranteed money, reportedly increasing their offer to a three-year, $72.5 million deal. However, the deal included a team option for the third year.Read more: Jonathan Kuminga’s Agent Reveals Offer He Plans to Accept From WarriorsKuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, explained why the player option is the missing piece for the forward.”The player option to him is super important… JK is clearly the guy that needs to sacrifice here for this to work,” Turner said on 95.7 The Game. “Okay, so that’s fine. He’s passing up opportunities where they are saying, I mean, B.J. Armstrong (Kings assistant GM) made a strong comment to JK like we want you to be you. We don’t want you to change a thing. Play your game. He can’t do that fully in Golden State.”There has been confusion on Kuminga’s role with the Warriors as there is still not set role for the 22-year-old as he enters his fifth season in the NBA. 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.Warriors veterans Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler have all reached out to Kuminga throughout the contract saga. Golden State’s big three reportedly don’t want Kuminga to leave the team and believe he is a valuable asset to the roster.Turner revealed there is no drama between Kuminga and the players, despite the ongoing negotiations with the front office.”They definitely talk,” Turner said of Kuminga’s relationship with the Warriors veterans. “He has respect for all of them. He really respects Jimmy. He likes how Jimmy moves. I know him and Jimmy have talked. Draymond is a guy that’s always been behind him… There’s no drama.”More news: Celtics Urged To Land $188 Million All Star in Blockbuster Trade IdeaFor all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
