Jonathan Kuminga’s free agency was expected to be one of the more intriguing subplots of Golden State’s offseason. But as the days pass, there’s growing belief that the Warriors might be holding all the cards.
While the 22-year-old forward is looking for a major payday and a larger role, one Warriors analyst has spelled out why Golden State can afford to wait — and why they’re not feeling the pressure.
Warriors’ Leverage Over Jonathan Kuminga Centers on Market Reality
Marc Grandi, host of 95.7 The Game, laid out Golden State’s leverage in simple terms:
“No team currently has the space to offer him an amount of money that makes GSW uncomfortable matching. Until that changes (a team dumping salary), GSW has ALL the leverage. Only thing that could change that is if Kuminga is willing to accept the QO (qualifying offer).”
Grandi’s post speaks to the current market for Kuminga. Despite the former No. 7 pick showing flashes of star potential early in his career, he’s not generating the kind of demand that would force the Warriors into action. Simply put, no team currently has the cap space or interest to blow Golden State out of the water with a massive offer.
GSW/Kuminga bottom line:
– No team currently has the space to offer him an amount of money that makes GSW uncomfortable matching
– Until that changes (a team dumping salary), GSW has ALL the leverage
– Only thing that could change that is if Kuminga is willing to accept the QO
— Marc Grandi (@MarcGrandi) July 5, 2025
Instead, Kuminga remains a restricted free agent, with the Warriors having already extended him a $7.9 million qualifying offer. That gives the franchise the right to match any deal he receives. Until someone steps up with a bigger bid, or Kuminga takes the qualifying offer himself and becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, the Warriors can wait this out.
While Kuminga’s upside remains real, his value around the league seems to have cooled. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 47 regular-season games, but his year was impacted by a significant ankle injury, and his role shrunk as the season went on, especially as late-season addition Jimmy Butler took on more responsibilities.
The bigger question is fit. His talent has never been in doubt, but the Warriors’ style of play hasn’t always aligned with his skill set. As a result, multiple reports have pointed to the likelihood of a sign-and-trade rather than a long-term reunion.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, six teams have shown varying degrees of interest in Kuminga, including the Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. That said, none of those teams have shown willingness to put forth a deal that would seriously test the Warriors’ resolve.
At just 22, Kuminga still carries enormous potential. There have been stretches where he looked like a future All-Star, like when he stepped up in the last three games of the playoffs in the absence of Stephen Curry, averaging 26.3 points. But still, the market remains cold for him.
For potentially the last time ever.
Thank you, Jonathan Kuminga 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Cwyw4gryBH
— LoonMuse⚜️ (@KevonLooneyMuse) June 30, 2025
He reportedly wants $25 million or more per year, and while that may not be unreasonable in today’s market for young wings, the demand just isn’t there right now. The Warriors, still trusting veterans like Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green, don’t appear in any rush to commit to Kuminga long-term, unless the market forces their hand.
