Jonathan Cuminga’s contract status is one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of this summer.
The Golden State Warriors have recently bolstered offers from the first two years of $45 million deal that they previously presented to Jonathan Kuminga.
Golden State currently offers Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract, guaranteeing $48.3 million in its first two seasons.
The annual salary coincides with a deal between fellow restricted free agent Josh Giddy and the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the increase in offers, Kuminga and his agent remain dissatisfied for two important reasons.
The three-year contract includes a third-year team option, limiting control over Cuminga’s future.
More importantly, Cuminga wants to avoid the situation at Jalen Greene in the Houston Rockets.
Green signed a three-year contract in late 2024. This included a third-year player option, but still traded on the Kevin Durant deal.
“They compared the deal to the lower-level version of Jalen Green’s deal signed by Houston. Jalen Green is making around $33 million next year, a player option of $36 million. He could essentially trade, saying that Houston was also paid for.
Green’s precedent shows that even lucrative contracts with player-friendly options do not guarantee the security of employment in today’s NBA trade market.
Kuminga’s main concern is focused on contract management rather than pure economic interests.
If Green, which had more contractual protection than the Warriors’ current offer, is still traded, Cuminga fears being treated the same.
“And they believe that if Kuminga signs this and goes in and buys as they want, he wants it to be a player option, not a team option. That’s the hold-up,” Slater added.
The team’s options structure means the Warriors can trade Kuminga at any time, especially as his minutes are not guaranteed and could further reduce market value.
Additionally, both parties will need to reach an agreement on the qualifying offer until October 1st, especially if Kuminga truly prioritizes career control over immediate financial security.
The deadline adds urgency to negotiations that have already grown throughout the summer.