Why Jonathan Kuminga is signing something Warriors are willing to wait for – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SAN FRANCISCO – From CEO Joe Lacob to general manager Mike Dunleavy to coach Steve Kerr and his staff, most key figures in the Warriors hierarchy love what they believe Jonathan Kuminga can bring to the franchise.

You want to go beyond that Think Kuminga can be an NBA All-Star by consensus Believe that he will develop enough to achieve this status.

According to two NBA sources, there was enough uncertainty to keep Golden State from giving Kuminga the kind of massive contract extension that would have meant he was next in line to hold the keys to the franchise. With the deadline set to expire at 3 p.m. PT on Monday, the 22-year-old forward will become a restricted free agent next summer.

“He took a leap last season,” a source said. “They want to see another one before making that investment. He is still under her control. If Kuminga has a strong season, I know they will look after him.”

The Warriors were unwilling to offer Kuminga such a large contract, which would have made him the second-highest paid player of all time next season, behind only superstar Stephen Curry, who will make $59.6 million.

No one else on the current roster has a contract that exceeds $30 million in 2025-2026, and Kuminga and his representatives were seeking a deal well above that amount, according to sources. A deal that would have had a significantly larger payroll impact than the deals for four-time All-Star Draymond Green and 2022 All-Star Andrew Wiggins.

The failure to reach an agreement with Kuminga was no surprise. Although both sides initially held discussions, it quickly became clear that the numbers could not be reconciled. Kuminga and his agent, Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball, are taking a risk in the hopes that he will prove he is worth a contract that a franchise player can typically afford.

In a recent conversation for an upcoming “Dubs Talk” on NBC Sports Bay Area, Kuminga didn't seem particularly fazed by that possibility.

“My main focus is basketball and my family,” Kuminga said. “With the contract thing, I’m trying to stay away from it as much as possible so I can just come here every day and focus on basketball. One thing I realized: there is always business. The more you think about what's going on, the angrier you become and you stop trying to focus on what's important.

“I just try to focus on basketball as much as possible and let my guys do it.”

Kuminga made significant strides last season, going from sometimes in the rotation to always in the rotation to virtually clinching a starting spot at small forward. He became Golden State University's third-leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting 52.9 percent from the field, including 32.1 percent from beyond the arc. In 46 starts, he averaged 17.2 points while shooting 53.1 percent overall and 29.5 percent from distance.

Although Kerr hasn't announced his starting lineup for Wednesday's season opener in Portland, it would be shocking if Kuminga wasn't on the floor to start the game.

Kerr has made it clear what he expects from Kuminga to secure his starting position and become a force to be reckoned with now and in the years to come.

“The other night he made the 3 and he played fast,” Kerr said, referring to an Oct. 15 preseason win against the Los Angeles Lakers. “As soon as there was a change of possession, he sprinted. He has to do this. We can't be a half-court team and play lineup combinations that don't make sense in terms of spacing. But when we play fast, a lot of that is mitigated. And if we're strong defensively, a lot of that is mitigated.

“He definitely needs to be better defensively and make sure he's in the tank and not running out of our tank. Make sure he's on the same page with the other guys. He needs to be better at his closeouts; He’s been overwhelmed a few times in the last few games and we’ve talked to him about it.”

You don't have to read between the lines to understand why the Warriors weren't willing to make Kuminga heir to Curry's throne. There are still too many questions that need to be answered, which is why the Warriors don't feel comfortable making such a large investment.

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