Jonathan Kuminga‘s restricted free agency is the most gripping storyline of the Golden State Warriors‘ offseason.
So many rumors have flown around the evolving Kuminga situation.
One of them was the old report that Kuminga’s camp turned down a $30 million annual salary offer from the Warriors last year as they were looking for a max contract.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, finally broke his silence and refuted the rumor.
“NO one on our side was turning down 30M a year. Our camp is smarter than that. Narrative makes no sense, twisted up Slater’s words, I think! #Fakenews” Turner wrote on X.
Turner, the president of Verus Basketball, was referring to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, who previously worked for The Athletic.
Slater also clarified that Kuminga never received a $30 million annual salary offer from the Warriors.
“While numbers were discussed, I think Jalen Johnson getting five years, $150 million gave a target, obviously Kuminga and his representation, they had ambitious thoughts of what it could be,” Slater said on “The Hoop Collective” podcast on July 25. “I’m of the belief – and I’ve been told – that (Kuminga’s camp) would’ve taken five for $150 million if it was ever on the table. It wasn’t on the table.”
Why Warriors Did Not Extend Jonathan Kuminga
Part of the reason the Warriors never extended Kuminga last offseason was because of the poison pill, Slater added.
“If you signed them to that deal, it will nearly be impossible to trade him last offseason,” Slater explained.
The Warriors held on to Kuminga, who showed flashes of star potential as the team’s second-leading scorer behind Stephen Curry until a significant ankle sprain kept him out of 31 games.
By the time he returned, his spot was already taken by the Warriors’ trade deadline acquisition Jimmy Butler, who propelled the Warriors to the playoffs after teetering on the brink of elimination before his arrival.
Kuminga’s role shrank by the day until coach Steve Kerr removed him from the Warriors’ playoff rotation. The 22-year-old forward only played big minutes when Jimmy Butler sustained a glute injury in the first round and Curry suffered a hamstring injury in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Jonathan Kuminga Delivers Big Numbers But Not Enough
Kuminga made the most of the opportunity to show that he’s ready for a bigger role. He averaged 24.3 points on 55.4% shooting and 38.9% from the 3-point line during the final four games of their second-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the Warriors did not win a single game with Kuminga leading the way in scoring without Curry.
Then Kerr made it clear that Kuminga will not be a starter if he returns next season.
“I’ve been asked to win,” Kerr told The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” on May 21. “And right now, he’s not a guy who I can say, I’m going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph, Jimmy and Draymond [Green], and put the puzzle together that way and expect to win.”
Kuminga’s camp has explored sign-and-trade scenarios, but no offer piqued the Warriors’ interest, ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported on “NBA Today.”
So, now they are in a staring contest that has stalled the Warriors’ offseason.
