The Golden State Warriors’ offseason remains unsettled as the future of Jonathan Kuminga continues to delay key contract decisions. With Kuminga yet to sign a new deal, the Warriors have nine players under standard contracts but cannot move forward with major signings, including pivotal decisions regarding Al Horford’s contract situation.
Contract Moves on Hold Amid Kuminga Negotiations
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the organization is cautiously awaiting resolution on Kuminga before completing agreements with Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II. Other players such as Malcolm Brogdon and Seth Curry remain on the Warriors’ radar, while Javonte Green could potentially join, but none of these moves can finalize until Kuminga’s status is clear.
Limited Trade Options and Waning Interest in Kuminga
The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns have explored sign-and-trade deals involving Kuminga, but the Warriors have been unimpressed with the current offers, as reported by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Talks have yet to reach a substantive phase, and no additional teams have emerged as serious suitors for Kuminga at this time.
The Salary Cap Complexity Restricts Golden State’s Flexibility
Salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan, writing for Third Apron, emphasized that the Warriors find themselves effectively stuck until Kuminga’s contract situation is resolved. Though verbal agreements with Horford and Melton exist, their contracts cannot be finalized while Kuminga remains unsigned. If the team opts to use the taxpayer mid-level exception, they would be subject to a hard salary cap of $207.8 million, which opens the possibility for competitors with more cap space to offer Kuminga about $30 million annually, a figure the Warriors would struggle to match.
Gozlan suggests that a sign-and-trade presents the most practical outcome for both Kuminga and Golden State. Should Kuminga re-sign directly, the Warriors would likely aim for a salary in the range of $22 to $23 million per season. This approach would enable them to employ the taxpayer mid-level exception and potentially sign three additional minimum contract players without breaching the hard cap.
Implications for the Warriors’ Upcoming Season
Despite the challenges, all indications point to Kuminga remaining with Golden State as the season begins. However, the ongoing deadlock has delayed critical roster decisions, including the finalization of contracts for key players like Al Horford. This stagnation could have lasting effects on the team’s depth and flexibility heading into the next <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA campaign.