The ongoing game of checkers between Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors might have turned into a game of chess.
More than a month into NBA free agency, both sides have yet to agree on a resolution regarding the young forward’s restricted free agency. And while Golden State won’t budge on offers made by interested teams, including the Kings and Phoenix Suns — Kuminga won’t either.
“This continued stalemate is largely about control, and the option dispute is at the crux of it,” ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported Wednesday. “Kuminga believes accepting the Warriors’ two-year offer with a team option, along with forfeiting trade veto rights, cedes too much control to a franchise he believes has stunted and strung his career along for four seasons, sources said.”
After being selected by the Warriors at No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga’s role with the team has fluctuated as he’s been in and out of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.
That only grew more complicated when Golden State acquired six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler at last season’s trade deadline. Kerr admitted on several occasions that it was difficult to mesh Kuminga with the core of Steph Curry, Butler and Draymond Green. Kuminga registered multiple DNP-CDs (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision) toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
But when the Warriors needed him most — after Curry went down with an injury and the season on the line — Kuminga rose to the occasion and shined in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 20.8 points on 54.3 percent shooting from the field and 42.1 percent from 3-point range, with 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.4 minutes.
In four seasons with Golden State, Kuminga has averaged 12.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, with 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22 minutes per game.
Kuminga declined the Warriors’ recent offer of a two-year, $45 million contract, Charania and Slater reported, citing sources.
Still, Golden State remains under the impression that the 22-year-old will open the new season on the Warriors’ roster, whether that be the aftermath of Kuminga accepting the two-year offer on the table or the standing $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.
It appears Kuminga has crossed out the former.
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