SAN FRANCISCO, CA. — Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency has stretched across the summer, and with each week, the stakes have only grown. The Golden State Warriors’ restricted free agent has yet to reach a resolution, and the ripple effects now extend beyond San Francisco. The Sacramento Kings, the Warriors’ Pacific Division rival, have seen their offseason plans stalled by the standoff.
Jonathan Kuminga’s Saga Is Holding The Warriors And Kings Hostage
A Standstill With Golden State
Kuminga, 22, wants more than a payday. He wants a role that matches his talent and potential. The Warriors, however, have drawn a hard line. Their offer — two years, $45 million, with a team option — has not moved.
For Kuminga, the options remain limited. He can accept that deal, or he can take his qualifying offer. Both outcomes lead him back to Golden State for 2025–26, but neither gives him the freedom he seeks. What looms larger is the control the Warriors retain over his financial and competitive future.
The relationship between player and franchise has eroded. Kuminga’s inconsistent role and stalled contract talks have left him seeking a fresh start. Trust has broken, and the path forward feels more like obligation than opportunity.
The Ripple Effect
The impact of the stalemate stretches past Kuminga and the Warriors. Golden State’s roster cannot fully take shape until the forward’s situation clears. Veterans like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton remain in limbo. Horford, expected to sign a two-year deal with a player option, still waits for financial flexibility to open.
But the greater consequence lies across the Bay. The Kings, eager to add size and athleticism, have circled Kuminga for months. His availability — or lack thereof — has dictated their offseason.
Sam Amick of The Athletic captured it plainly: “The Sacramento Kings, who have been the most serious suitors in sign-and-trade scenarios, have been resisting the urge to make other, smaller moves all summer long because the Kuminga pursuit was a bigger priority. More specifically, the odds of a Russell Westbrook signing go up if they know they’re completely out on Kuminga.”
The result? Jonathan Kuminga, Kings, Warriors — hostage in a summer chess match none of them seem eager to end. To be clear, the Kings were active this summer. They signed Dennis Schroder and Drew Eubanks, then acquired Dario Šarić in a trade. Still, only Schroder truly moves the needle. Amick’s reporting suggests the Kings might have done more if the Kuminga situation had been settled.
Waiting for the Deadline
Pressure will mount, but not yet. The qualifying-offer deadline of Oct. 1 hangs as the true pivot point. Training camp starts days earlier, a natural forcing mechanism for both sides.
Until then, the Warriors hold steady. Kuminga holds out hope for leverage. And the Kings hold their breath, knowing every small move could close the door on their larger pursuit.
The Bottom Line
Kuminga wants value and respect. The Warriors want control and continuity. The Kings want clarity. Until a resolution comes, all three remain tethered.
© D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
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