Draymond Green issues ‘it will never be the same’ warning to Jonathan Kuminga over Warriors exit

Draymond Green says Jonathan Kuminga told him that he still wants to be with the Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green was at the Warriors media day and he talked about Kuminga’s contract situation.

He did confirm that Kuminga told him that he wants to be in Golden State.

Green also made it clear that young players should want to stay with the franchise that drafted them and it got him to reflect on his 14 years with the Warriors.

“I think anyone should want to be in the franchise that they started in.

“So do I think he still wants to be here? Yeah, I do think he still wants to be here, and he said that to me, that he still wants to be here.

“When you’re still with the franchise that drafted you, I don’t care what’s happened. You don’t just throw that in the middle of the ring and say, hey, somebody else going to take it.

“Because you never get it back once you move on to the next franchise. I’m thankful I’m going into year 14 with the same, and never had to experience that, but I’ve seen people go through it and it’s never the same.

“I know this business. It will never be the same, Green added.

“Just because a contract negotiation didn’t go beautifully does not mean it’s the end of the road, and a contract negotiation that went beautifully don’t mean it’s the beginning. It could be the end. I take every day for what it’s worth in this league.

“That’s what I try to tell my young guys. That’s my message to Jonathan [Kuminga]. A contract negotiation is a contract negotiation for a reason.

“It’s one side trying to get the better of the other side, and when you’re trying to do that, just like in a basketball game, tempers flare.

“Things get heated. Sometimes people get kicked out of the room. Sometimes people walk back in the room. That’s just how it goes.”

The Golden State Warriors have been busy making moves

With no Kuminga deal finalized just yet, the Warriors have proceeded to make other moves to fill out their roster before training camp.

The Warriors signed Al Horford  to a multi-year deal and also committed to deals with Gary Payton II and  De’Anthony Melton.

They also locked up their 2025 second-round draft picks, signing No. 56 pick Will Richard to a four-year deal and No. 52 pick Alex Toohey to a two-way NBA contract.

Finally, the Warriors added Ja’vier Francis on an Exhibit 10 training camp deal as the franchise looks to get clarity on Kuminga’s next contract soon.