If Jonathan Kuminga had it his way, he would be a member of the Kings or Phoenix Suns via a sign-and-trade deal made with the Warriors.
Both teams have made offers to Golden State, including a four-year, $90 million contract that includes a player option for the final season, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources, adding that Phoenix has made the “most lucrative push” to acquire the 22-year-old forward.
The money, stability and role promised in pitches from Sacramento and Phoenix move the needle for Kuminga.
“Kuminga prefers the longer-term offers presented by the Kings and Suns because he believes they signify a fresh start, a larger guaranteed role, a promised starting position and a greater level of respect and career control, shown in part through the player option, sources said,” Slater and Charania wrote. “Phoenix’s proposal is also nearly $70 million more guaranteed than the Warriors’ offer.”
The Warriors haven’t been intrigued by anything offered by the Kings and Suns, though. Sacramento’s offer included second-year guard Devin Carter, big man Dario Šarić and two second-round draft picks, sources told NBC Sports California. It is unclear if the Kings made a separate or revised offer to the Warriors.
In recent days, the Warriors have begun to indicate they’re leaning toward cutting off sign-and-trade conversations altogether, using their restricted free agency leverage to the fullest, Slater and Charania reported, citing sources.
Golden State currently is under the impression that Kuminga will begin the 2025-26 NBA season on the Warriors’ roster — either through their two-year offer on the table or the standing $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer, whichever is Kuminga’s preference. Kuminga declined Golden State’s recent two-year, $45 million contract offer, Charania and Slater reported, citing sources.
Kuminga met with Kings general manager Scott Perry, assistant GM B.J. Armstrong and coach Doug Christie earlier this month and left the meeting “open-minded” to the idea of joining Sacramento.
But as we’ve come to learn, it isn’t that simple.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
Read the full article here