The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga have been stuck in a negotiation loop for a while now. The Warriors cannot make any moves until they solve the Kuminga situation. In addition to the contract dilemma, there were also reports that Steve Kerr doesn’t believe he can win with Jonathan. There is a new report suggesting a dramatic change in the negotiations.
New Report Suggests a Change in Jonathan Kuminga Negotiations
According to a report by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Warriors owner Joe Lacob has personally told Kuminga that he wants him playing for the Warriors for a long time. That might be true, but the actions do not suggest that. The Warriors’ latest offer of two-years, the second of which is a team option, is not something that Kuminga would accept. That would essentially make him a trade target and an expiring deal.
REPORT: Warriors owner Joe Lacob told Jonathan Kuminga he wants him in Golden State “for a long time,” per @ramonashelburne. pic.twitter.com/OZo78yIdDw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 18, 2025
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A month and a half has passed since the beginning of free agency. Right now, the Warriors are the only team in the league without a single transaction, excluding the draft. They have a couple of players lined up with a verbal agreement, but until they put the ink on paper, nothing is guaranteed.
How Can the Warriors Solve the Kuminga Challenge?
Despite being in and out of the lineup, Kuminga is still 22 years old. Teams do not want to let go of young players who end up shining elsewhere. That can be a mistake that haunts them for years.
One option, suggested by Shelburne, is to give Kuminga another year plus on his deal. That would make it a two-year contract, plus a team option for a third year. It gives Kuminga a bit more stability and continuity. That deal would still line up with the contracts of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, all of which expire after the 2026-27 season. Right now, it seems like the Warriors consider the next two seasons as the final push for a championship with Steph as their go-to guy.
Do the Warriors Need Kuminga?
Teams around the league are monitoring the negotiations between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga. It seems like several teams and players are “hostages” and are waiting for the situation to clear up before other moves are made.
Nevertheless, the Warriors cannot afford to lose Kuminga for nothing. As we said before, he is a 22-year-old lottery pick. The Warriors do have their own picks going forward, but it is hard to see any of them being a lottery pick in the next two seasons. Right now, Kuminga is the best bet for a young player who can become a future star for the Warriors. The worst scenario is for Jonathan to leave for another team and shine there. That would prove that Steve Kerr mishandled the situation and didn’t put effort into Kuminga’s development.
The 2028 draft pick might be the most valuable one. That will be the draft after Steph, Draymond, and Jimmy finish their contracts. If they do not extend for another season, the Warriors will enter the 2027-28 season without their big three. The good news is they have their own first-round pick in 2028, ’29, ’31, and ’32. The Wizards control their pick in 2030, but it is top-20 protected.
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