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Warriors’ Plans For Jonathan Kuminga: What NBA Execs Are Saying

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 5:38 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga never reached the serious negotiating table when it came to a rookie scale extension last NBA offseason.

Despite ongoing discussions, Golden State reportedly never put forth a concrete offer, even one approaching $30 million per year.

That’s according to Anthony Slater of ESPN, who appeared on The Hoop Collective podcast Friday with colleague Brian Windhorst. Slater, then with The Athletic, previously reported that Kuminga may have been open to a deal below max value, but the Warriors weren’t willing to make the numbers work.

In fact, Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, tweeted this week that the 22-year-old forward never received or rejected an offer worth even $30 million annually.

Slater essentially backed that up during his podcast appearance, adding that Golden State was reluctant to formalize anything due to the poison pill provision that would’ve impacted a potential trade in 2024-25.

“I think Jalen Johnson getting five years, $150 million gave a target,” Slater said, via HoopsRumors. “I’ve been told Kuminga’s camp would’ve taken five for $150 if it was ever on the table. It wasn’t.”

A max extension for Kuminga would’ve landed in the $43–45 million per year range, depending on length. But after an inconsistent 2024-25 campaign, in which he played just 47 games and saw dips across multiple categories, his market value has cooled significantly.

Fred Katz of The Athletic recently polled 16 rival executives to gauge what a fair deal for Kuminga might look like. The responses ranged from $17 to $25 million annually, with only one exec floating a five-year, $125 million scenario.

Most front-office voices around the league believe a three-year contract would be ideal, with many suggesting a third-year player option and citing similarities to Jalen Green’s deal in Houston. Green signed a three-year, $105 million extension with a player option before being dealt to Phoenix earlier this month.

NO one on our side was turning down 30M a year. Our camp is smarter than that. Narrative makes no sense, twisted up Slater’s words I think! #Fakenews

— Aaron Turner (@arockturner20) July 23, 2025

“It feels like a Jalen Green-type deal that keeps him tradable,” one exec told The Athletic, suggesting a three-year, $70 million offer. “Definitely less than he probably wants, but the player option gives him some flexibility.”

“If I’m the agent, I’m trying to get a short-term deal so I can get out of there and get somewhere else but still make some money in the meantime,” another said.

One option still on the table is for Kuminga to accept his $8 million qualifying offer and test unrestricted free agency in 2026. But that route carries risk for both sides.

From the Warriors’ perspective, locking Kuminga into a new deal could be key to maintaining trade flexibility. Right now, only Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are on the books for more than $11.6 million in 2025-26, and none are expected to be moved.

“If he takes the qualifying offer, the Warriors are f—ed from a team-building standpoint,” one executive told The Athletic. “Because they need to get him on a deal where they can trade him. That’s the key for them.”