Power forward Jonathan Kuminga is singlehandedly holding up the Golden State Warriors’ entire postseason.
The restricted free agent has yet to agree to terms on a new contract with Golden State, and as the summer has dragged on without a deal, it’s become pretty apparent that (a) neither side wants to stay in business with the other much longer and (b) both sides absolutely need each other to get where they want to go.
Kuminga, an athletic 22-year-old with some intriguing upside as a scorer but an inconsistent motor and jumper, is pining for big money and a new team. In a chilled free agent market where just one team, the Brooklyn Nets, still has significant cap space, the main avenue for that right now would be a sign-and-trade.
Golden State’s Offseason on Pause
The Warriors are evidently seeking to build on their blockbuster midseason acquisition of six-time All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler, which propelled the club to a 48-34 record and a second-round playoff exit. Prior to the deal, Golden State had been circling a second straight possible lottery-bound season.
An exciting young player like Kuminga, flaws and all, could be the Warriors’ best path for building on the successful home stretch of their 2024-25 campaign.
Golden State does have other mechanisms for improving its roster beyond the Kuminga deal, however. The team appears to just be waiting on the Kuminga deal to make further moves.
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Reported future Warriors Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II all have had their futures NBA put on hold in the interim.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, a resolution to the drama could be on the way at last, with training camp fast approaching and just nine Golden State players on the club’s standard roster as of this writing.
Of those nine, center Trayce Jackson-Davis and wing Gui Santos are only on non-guaranteed deals, and could in theory be cut — although that feels unlikely, given their youth and cost.
It is almost September, and there is still no resolution to the Jonathan Kuminga-Warriors standoff.
New on @ClutchPoints: Some small updates on where things stand, as well as the idea that the Dubs could look to alter their offer. https://t.co/tFv2Q3911J
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) August 25, 2025
As Siegel observes, Golden State struggled to find a return haul it liked enough for Kuminga in possible sign-and-trade agreements. Siegel adds that “firm offers” were tendered by both the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.
For now, Kuminga is not budging on his apathy for the two-season, $45 million salary (with a team option on the second year) the Warriors have extended his way.
The 6-foot-8 pro has another approach he can take: he could pick up a $7.9 million qualifying offer for 2025-26. In this scenario, he’d reach unrestricted free agency next summer, when several NBA clubs project to have more cap room than had been the case during this offseason.
“Once Labor Day passes on Sept. 1, more clarity on Kuminga’s immediate future should present itself,” Siegel writes. “After all, the Warriors would prefer to find a solution early in the month and not wait until Oct. 1, when qualifying offers expire.”
Last season, Kuminga struggled through health issues, and saw his rotational role shift thanks to injury problems and, later, the Butler trade.
Still, when he did play, he put up enticing numbers. In 47 healthy bouts, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points on a .454/.305/.668 slash line, 4.6 boards, 2.2 dimes, and 0.8 swipes a night.
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