With the start of training camp for the Golden State Warriors just days ago, the summer-long Jonathan Kuminga saga still hasn’t come to a resolution.
He has been a restricted free agent, and while they have made multiple generous contract offers to him, he has said no to each one. It is getting to the point where Kuminga can either agree to his qualifying offer for the 2025-26 season of $7.9 million by Oct. 1, or the Warriors can execute a sign-and-trade involving him.
There has been talk that the Sacramento Kings are interested in acquiring Kuminga. But the holdup is the fact that, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Golden State does not want Malik Monk in return.
“Golden State has made it clear that it has no interest in absorbing Malik Monk’s contract from Sacramento, irrespective of Monk’s talents, if it means taking on Monk’s $21.5 million player option for the 2027-28 season,” Fischer reported. “…As much as Golden State hopes to compete for championships over the next two seasons with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and [Jimmy] Butler all on the same contractual timeline, it is also laser-focused on having financial flexibility after the 2026-27 season when the trio’s current contracts are on course to expire simultaneously.”
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Business aside, Monk may not be a bad consolation prize for Golden State if it loses out on Kuminga. He averaged 17.2 points and 5.6 assists a game, both of which were career highs, last season, and he possesses ample speed and quickness. At age 27, he is also the type of young player the Warriors badly need moving forward.
Kuminga, who will turn 23 years of age on Oct. 6, averaged 15.3 points a game last season. The 6-foot-7 forward, who was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has stepped up his game over the last two seasons.
With Curry, Green and Butler all approaching their late 30s, the Warriors need as many young and viable players as they can get their hands on. Kuminga fits that description, and losing him would likely mean losing any hope they have of competing for the NBA title any time soon.
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The forward’s contract saga has held up other roster decisions for the franchise. Guard De’Anthony Melton and veteran big man Al Horford are expected to sign with the team, but only after the Kuminga situation is resolved.