According to NBA insider Tim MacMahon, \u201cHe\u2019s miserable. He doesn\u2019t want to be in Golden State.\u201d This is the reason why we are seeing Jonathan Kuminga drawn in a stalemate with the Warriors. This has affected them, making any other additions as the current roster stands at just 9 players. Despite reported offers of up to $75 million over three years, JK is holding firm and looks to accept the qualifying offer to control his future.<\/p>\n
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But even that move is not going to bring the expected results for the Congolese forward. Currently, he can sign a one-year $7.9 million qualifying offer by the October 1st deadline, and come back next season without giving the Warriors long-term guarantees. If the team doesn\u2019t get the guarantee, then the 22-year-old also doesn\u2019t get it, according to Sam Vecenie. By not putting pen to paper on the $75 million deal, JK is losing out $67 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s call it 67 million over the next two seasons, which means you need Jonathan Kuminga to make $35 million a year basically in free agency after taking the qualifying offer, after you\u2019ve screwed Golden State by taking the qualifying offer. So they will have no connection to you whatsoever if you do this. Like, they will have no reason to feature you.\u201d Vecenie was blunt, but made a solid point. Multiple times last year, the 23-year-old was out of the starting rotation. But the team showed faith in their young star.<\/p>\n
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That won\u2019t be the case going forward, since Jonathan Kuminga will walk away from the Golden State without any burden if he accepts the qualifying offer. \u201cThey will have no reason to like really give you the chance to like go out and go nuts and ball. I do not think that agency and Jonathan Kuminga has the leverage that they think they have in this circumstance. And I think taking a qualifying offer would be cutting off, you know, your nose to spite your face basically,\u201d Vecenie concluded on the latest episode<\/a> of Game Theory Podcast.<\/p>\n Kuminga\u2019s agent, Aaron Turner, has made it clear that a $7.9 million qualifying offer that keeps his client in Golden State until 2026 would not be \u201ca good feeling.\u201d Further adding to why the player and the camp are making such demands. \u201cSo, part of it is you\u2019re going to have to sacrifice your game from where other people would allow you to do for now his fifth year. Um, in addition to that, he might get traded. He knows that. We know that. They know that.\u201d<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n There is no doubt that Jonathan Kuminga still brings value to the team despite his uncertain role. Like averaging 24.2 points in the final four games, without Stephen Curry in the series against Minnesota. So, the agent wants clarity and a guarantee of minutes if they sign the long-term contract. For now, the Warriors are just offering three years and $75.2 million,\u00a0including a team option<\/a> in the third year. But the sides are still not coming to an agreement.<\/p>\n Can this Jonathan Kuminga saga come to a close?<\/p>\n As the front office tries to find a solution, their roster planning is on hold. Reports link the Warriors to veterans like Al Horford and other efficient role players like De\u2019Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II, who could provide much-needed depth once Kuminga\u2019s future is settled. In the meantime, options such as Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Dalano Banton have been brought in for workouts at Chase Center. But there is no resolution. In fact, previously, even the owner tried to smooth the talks.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Owner Joe Lacob flew to Miami for an in-person meeting with Kuminga and the agent, and they asked a very straightforward question. \u201cDo you want to be here?\u201d\u00a0The exchange reportedly flipped back on ownership when Kuminga answered,\u00a0\u201cDo you even want me here?\u201d Once again proving that JK is very cautious about the move that he will make. Along the way, he has already rejected a two-year $45 million contract, and now he holds the cards.<\/p>\n