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Warriors’ Stars Rally Behind Kuminga in Contract Talks

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Aleksandar Mishkov | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 3:30 PM ET

The contract talks between the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga might have reached their peak. Since July 1st, the two sides have been working hard to find a common ground that will make them happy. But so far, nothing has materialized. According to the latest reports, the biggest stars on the Warriors have talked to management and urged them to offer Kuminga a fair deal in contract talks.

Warriors’ Stars Rally Behind Kuminga in Contract Talks

Per Brett Siegel from ClutchPoints, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green have advocated behind the scenes for the Warriors to re-sign Kuminga to a fair contract. The problem there is that both sides have different views on what a “fair contract” is. It seems like they have found a common ground on the money, but they are still working on details like length and options.

The good news for Kuminga is that it seems like the Warriors veterans all want him back on the roster. They are aware that his athleticism, durability, and production cannot be replicated on the market, at least not with the assets the Warriors have. If they lose Kuminga, they will lose a player who is ready to contribute during the long 82-game season.

Kuminga, for his part, has signaled that he is willing to help the team with a smaller cap figure and buy into the role of helping the veterans win a championship. He seems to be aware that his time will come, whether that is in a Warriors uniform or another team. We will wait and see.

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What is on the Table?

Aaron Turner, Jonathan Kuminga’s agent, recently talked on The Hoop Collective podcast, detailing some of the offers that have been on the table. He mentioned several options, including the qualifying offer at $7.9 million, two years $45 million with the second year a team option, and three years $75 million with the third year being a team option.

In the same podcast, he talked about how Kuminga and his camp believe they should get a player option for the third year. Right now, that is holding the negotiations. The Warriors want a more team-friendly contract, while Kuminga believes he deserves a player option. Turner and Kuminga believe they are leaving money on the table in the first years because the Warriors risk getting over the second apron. And they want some compensation on the back end of the deal, which would allow JK to get to free agency and secure a more lucrative deal.

Does Kuminga Have Any Leverage?

For the Warriors, the worst-case scenario would be for Kuminga to sign the qualifying offer. His agent confirmed that it is on the table if the negotiations do not reach a satisfactory deal by October 1st. If Kuminga signs the qualifying offer, he will be a free agent in the summer of 2026. Next summer, there will be plenty of teams with cap space, and not that many quality free agents. Kuminga might be among the top five coveted young players next summer. The Warriors will have his bird rights and can offer him a deal as well. But they also risk losing him for nothing. Franchises that lose a top-10 talent for nothing can be set back for years.

While on The Hoop Collective, Turner also confirmed that they are very much aware that the Warriors need Kuminga for two things. They either want him as a player to build around or as a contract they can use in trades. He mentioned the Warriors’ payroll situation. And it is true that right now, the Warriors do not have many tradeable contracts besides Moses Moody and Buddy Hield.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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