It appears that one of Jonathan Kuminga’s top priorities regarding a potential return to the Warriors is security.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported Friday on “NBA Today” that the fifth-year NBA veteran forward will not be returning to Golden State if he doesn’t believe he is in the organization’s long-term plans.
“Kuminga wants more of a player-friendly deal — more of a signal that he’s a building block and not just a trade asset; the word I’ve heard from the Kuminga side is ‘pawn,’” Slater said. “He doesn’t want to sign this two-year, $45 million deal with a team option where he is clearly just being used to be traded mid-season.
“That’s not something he wants to sign up for.”
Kuminga, like most players, doesn’t want to be trade bait — he wants a home.
The Bay has been just that for the 22-year-old, since the Warriors selected Kuminga with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. But Golden State and Kuminga have yet to strike a deal.
Slater explained what aspects could change Kuminga’s mind.
“Now, if you’re talking about a three-year deal (or) something with a player option that shows him a little bit more commitment, that’s something he’d be interested in,” Slater said.
Time is running out for the Warriors to extend the hypothetical player-friendly deal to Kuminga. In the same breath, the forward must not love what offers he has seen from other teams, considering the restricted free agent is yet to agree to an offer.
Slater concluded by saying that neither side — Kuminga and the Warriors — has budged this summer.
“As of now, the Warriors have been hesitant to do that,” Slater said. “Kuminga is signaling to those around him that he’s very willing and prefers the qualifying offer over the two-year, $45 million deal, and that’s dangerous for the Warriors.
“They could try to call his bluff, but right now, it seems to be trending toward the qualifying offer.”
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