NBA Market: The keys to the end of the saga Jonathan Kuminga - Golden State Warriors

Jonathan Kuminga ended a lengthy standoff with the Golden State Warriors by agreeing to a two-year, $48.5 million contract, as confirmed by his agent Aaron Turner to ESPN. The deal includes a team option for the second season, allowing the franchise—or another team in case of a trade during the season—to negotiate a new contract after the 2025-26 campaign.

The forward chose this arrangement over a three-year, $75 million offer, with the intention of maintaining greater control over his immediate future. This way, he will be able to re-enter the market as an unrestricted free agent in 2027 or make key decisions already next summer. The understanding also includes exploring his exit starting in mid-January, when he becomes eligible for trade, also waiving his no-trade clause.

Negotiations between the leadership led by Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the player's camp extended throughout the summer. Golden State even improved its initial offer from July by $8 million and guaranteed Kuminga an additional $15 million compared to the one-year, $8 million qualifying offer he had on the table. During the process, the Warriors presented different alternatives: two years and $45 million with a team option, three years and $75 million with a team option, or three years and $54 million fully guaranteed. The player, on his part, sought a player option or a higher salary in short-term contracts, something the franchise rejected. Ultimately, the $48.5 million agreement raised the team's luxury tax bill by an additional $70 million, putting the total luxury tax penalty at over $80 million.

While finalizing Kuminga's contract, the franchise also secured the addition of Seth Curry for one year, allowing him to share the court with his brother Stephen. Golden State, limited to 15 standard contracts without additional moves, plans to have him for most of the season. In the days prior, they had also signed Gary Payton II, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and rookie Will Richard, completing a roster of 15 players for the start of training camp.

During the summer, the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns showed strong interest in Kuminga. The Suns offered a four-year deal of nearly $90 million with a player option in a sign-and-trade, but the Warriors stood firm. They also turned down proposals involving Royce O’Neale and second-round picks from Phoenix, or Malik Monk plus a protected first-round pick from Sacramento.

On the sporting front, Kuminga entered negotiations after a series of ups and downs in the previous playoffs. Against Houston, he only played 50 minutes in seven games, with four absences due to coach's decision and an average of six points on 30.4% shooting. However, in the subsequent series against Minnesota without Stephen Curry available, he became the centerpiece with an average of 20.8 points and 54.3% shooting, surpassing 20 points in three consecutive games to close the series.

Kuminga's Stats

The player has been a key piece in Golden State's interior game, leading the team in points in the paint per game over the last two seasons (10 in 2023-24 and 8.5 in the previous one), a critical aspect for a team that ranked among the worst in the league in that area. Moreover, he is among the most productive players of the 2021 class, accumulating over 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, and is one of only five in Warriors history to surpass 3,000 points before turning 23.

His ability to elevate performance in Curry's absence is also reflected in his stats. When playing alongside the point guard, he averaged 14.1 points on 44.5% shooting, while in the ten games without him, he reached 19.6 points with a 48.2% success rate.

With this agreement, Kuminga becomes the third restricted free agent to resolve his situation in September, following Cam Thomas with the Brooklyn Nets and Josh Giddey with the Chicago Bulls. The only one left to define his future is Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, the Warriors have finalized a series of moves within just 48 hours to shape the roster for the start of the 2024-25 season.

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