It would be a gross understatement to argue that the Golden State (GS) Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are at an impasse. They have navigated the summer keeping their options open. He has spent it trying to close a few; he has declined the team’s $45-million offer through 2027, balking at a second-year team option and the removal of what he rightly viewed as a de facto no-trade clause. They aim for flexibility, he wants clarity, and the result has been a standoff that is slow-moving and yet pointed, between a franchise still trying to contend and a player no longer content to wait.
The impasse, first reported by ESPN, reflects a deeper disagreement about value, tangible or otherwise. Kuminga is pushing for clarity: a long-term commitment, a starting role, and a say in where he plays. Which is why his camp has put forth a three-year, $82-million proposal that includes a descending salary structure to help the Warriors navigate the tax apron. The latter said no, however, bent on creating as much room to maneuver as possible, no doubt for a bigger move down the line.
Needless to say, the market has reacted to the standoff. The Kings and Suns have offered four-year deals worth close to $90 million, with a player option in the final year and a promise of opportunity. Both have trade frameworks in place — sweeteners, picks, rotational pieces. So far, though, the Warriors haven’t bitten; they’re balking at the risk and the returns. And so they hold on to Kuminga’s restricted rights for leverage, but at a cost. Because of the uncertainty, they have been constrained from making any other move.
For all intents, the gridlock is made more prominent by the growing gap between the Warriors’ timeline and Kuminga’s desired career path. And since he’s betting on himself, he could very well take the $7.9-million qualifying offer, play it out, and hit unrestricted free agency next year. The flipside, of course, is that it’s a big gamble. Injury or inconsistency could cost him tens of millions of dollars. Even staying might mean him being showcased more for mere trade value than for lasting development. All told, it’s the kind of bet that works only if the win comes early.
In another year, or on another roster, the issue would have been resolved by now. Unfortunately, the Warriors are operating with a tighter margin, both in cap space and direction. Top dog Steph Curry is 37. Defensive anchor Draymond Green is 35. The window for success is becoming narrower and, at best, closing. Kuminga was envisioned to be the bridge. But if the team won’t commit, and if he won’t bend, that bridge may never be built. For now, both sides are still staring at it, waiting for the other to lay the first foundation.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
