Before the Warriors’ training camp officially starts next week, Jimmy Butler organized a mini camp for the team’s players. As part of building chemistry and laying the foundation for the new season, the Warriors are meeting in San Diego this week.
With Jonathan Kuminga (who also goes by JK) and the Warriors at a standstill in negotiations, Kuminga declined Butler’s invite to the team event.
The decision to forego the first team-centered event signals that Kuminga and his camp will continue to play hardball.
Confined in a Role
News of the rejected invite comes just days after JK’s representative, Aaron Turner, went on The Hoop Collective podcast to break down the looming contract decision.
Turner perpetuated the notion that the restricted free agent is seeking a bigger role with more opportunity. This is difficult to find on the Warriors squad, which already has a number one option for whom the system is built around.
On top of that, the team also has a more experienced player at Kuminga’s position, with Jimmy Butler making himself comfortable in the starting slot. Their issues playing together don’t help either, given that neither are floor spacers.
Kevon Looney’s departure, on the other hand, could create more opportunities for Kuminga to touch the floor. The team is accustomed to playing small, but the vacant spot is likely to be occupied by Al Horford. That is, if a presumed agreement is reached.
One Foot Out the Door
Turner reiterated the importance of having a player option if the two sides were to come to terms. However, the Warriors remain insistent on maintaining financial flexibility, creating discord between the player and the front office.
The current offer, as it stands, is three years, $75 million with a team option in the final year. Both sides want control and security in the deal, but the young forward may decide on the $7.9 million qualifying offer. In that case, he would play out next season for a more lucrative contract and gain a no-trade clause for this upcoming season.
The Warriors have put a three-year $54 million deal on the table as well, which excludes any option years.
Kuminga’s agent also confirmed that Kuminga met with other teams: the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings. His name surfaced multiple times in the offseason, linking him to the Kings in a potential deal for Malik Monk. After rumors of a Monk and Kuminga swap subsided, trade talks between the two teams have resurfaced.
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Owner Joe Lacob has notoriously been a huge Kuminga supporter from the beginning. After all, the team is in great need of someone with the offensive skillset and defensive versatility he possesses.
But it’s one thing to verbally express his love for the lottery pick; it’s another to express it in the form of financial compensation.
Money-wise, Turner has a realistic idea of how much the Warriors could offer. He recognizes the unlikelihood of Kuminga getting paid the same amount as Jalen Green due to the second apron.
Despite this, JK would be more willing to re-sign if he retained a player option or a no-trade clause. As of now, the Warriors are hesitant to do so.
As his agent put it, “If you take less on the front end, you want more on the back end.”
Besides the uncertainties surrounding the money and role on the team, his relationship with head coach Steve Kerr is in question. Turner dispelled the claim that Kuminga can’t play for Kerr, citing numerous offensively explosive nights thus far in his career.
The problem, however, is that his future projection of JK’s career trajectory is misaligned with that of Steve’s.
Kerr sees Kuminga as a Shawn Marion or Aaron Gordon type of player, much to Kuminga’s dismay. Kuminga and his representation view him as the core piece of a winning team and a future all-star.
This Will All Be Over Soon
Turner neither confirmed nor denied rumors that Kuminga would rather leave the only franchise he’s ever known. If his no-show at Jimmy Butler’s camp is any indication of what will happen, the Warriors may have to move on without him.
Oct. 1 is the deadline to sign the qualifying offer, meaning the staring contest will soon come to an end. The decisions made in the next week will give more clarity into the organization’s future.
One side will have to give in a little in order to make a deal work. So now the question is, who will blink first?
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