Jonathan Kuminga's forbidden fruit is within reach if he chooses to extend his never-ending weapon.
Restricted free agents, as Cushinga has been nearly a month old, rarely qualifies to propose, bet on his own, return to his previous team in a year's trade and go public again next summer. But there are good reasons this strategy is not common.
As far as Cummin Province is concerned, he can continue to negotiate with the Golden State Warriors, who chose his seventh team in the 2021 NBA Draft or he can choose a season-long qualifying offer worth $8 million and then go back to Golden State for a year (he will be able to encounter any deal in this deal) United NationsFree agents will be restricted next summer.
However, accepting a qualified offer can be mutually beneficial, the risks of Kubinga and potential disasters to the Warriors, especially in sportsThe findings proved to be accurate.
sports Recently, given the current situation, 16 people who believed they worked in the competitor’s front office asked what they thought would constitute a “fair” contract for Kumingga. They were granted anonymity in exchange for their candidity. The average annual value of the answer ranges from $17 million to $25 million. The average annual value in the poll is $20.4 million.
An executive proposed a two-year contract. Ten mentioned three-year contracts. Four people said four years. A fan of Kuminga games has proposed the biggest deal (both in year and average value): $125 million in five years.
He compared the 22-year-old to the talent of Jaden McDaniels, a defensive defender in Timberwolves, Minnesota, who signed a five-year, $131 million contract while in a similar position in his career.
“McDaniels' role is great, but JK is more talented and if he can hit him, he's in a higher position.”
Of course, while Kubinga’s talent is obvious, his work in the first four seasons has oscillated. Most importantly, the context surrounding McDaniel and Kubinga’s situation is not the same.
The restricted free agent is currently strangling four players: Kubinga, Chicago Bulls' Josh Gidey, Philadelphia 76ers' Quentin Grimes and Brooklyn Nietz's Cam Thomas. Deep in the summer, other teams no longer have a cap space. Therefore, the motivation to sign the above four players has stalled.
The Warriors have looked for a potential signature trade for Kubinga, but have gained no appeal, league sources said. A niche rule in a collective bargaining agreement called the Basic Annual Pay, which determines that Kubinga’s upcoming salary will be different from the one he entered, which will complicate any sign and math in trade. As of now, the most likely scenario seems to be that all of these players are re-signing with previous teams.
If Kuminga is not happy with Golden State's performance, this will open up the possibility of a qualified offer, which will put him well below his market value for a year, but send him into an unrestricted free agency in 2026, while more teams will have cap space and can provide him with more money. For restricted free agents, the player's previous team has the right to refuse for the first time, and can match any offer list to bring him back at the same price, weakening his market. If Kuminga is not restricted, he can sign with anyone.
The executive mentioned Cushinga's two-year contract, who averaged 15.3 points in just 24.3 minutes last season, but flew between dog houses to the top of the offense and then returned to the dog house and so on – without hinting about his brief commitment as he took action at Kuminga. In fact, of the remaining four restricted free agents, Kubinga is the one he most favors to make a qualified offer.
Therefore, executives suggest both sides have compromises: $45 million in two years.
“Kuminga is a wing, so his floor should be at least the mid-level exception,” the executive said. “That's why he might risk (short-term deals) or qualified offer. (If he accepts a qualified offer), there are several teams with Cap Room that may strike and be interested next summer.”
Previous players have received qualified offers. Sometimes it can swim. Ben Gordon did it a decade and a half ago, hosting a huge season with the Bulls before getting a payday from the Detroit Pistons next summer. At other times it was a disaster, like Nerlens Noel, who rejected the huge expansion because it wasn't the biggest, but got a qualified offer, just to put the minimum contract as a free agent in the following offseason.
However, there is one controversy that Kuminga accepts the qualification proposal at a higher risk for the Warriors than for him, just as an executive made $65 million proposal for Kuminga in three years.
“If he accepts a qualified offer, the Warriors are from a team-building perspective because they need to get him to make a deal,” the executive said. “That's their key.”
Since losing Chris Paul last summer, he led 48-34 last season and then replaced 48-34 before losing the second round of the playoffs, but not necessarily looking for a shocking point guard, but to do it around Paul’s salary. That's how the NBA is today, where teams are usually improved by trade rather than free agents, in which case the rules about matching wages are stricter than ever, making salary higher than intermediate but lower than maximum and even more valuable.
The Warriors sold to Paul in part because of the exchange of salary slots, exchanging Jordan Poole for a future Hall of Fame member, who created a $30 million shadow in 2023-24. When Paul signed with the San Antonio Spurs last summer, that number narrowed to zero.
Teams around the league have been performing a task that chains along those medium-sized wage seats as long as possible. Kubinga’s free agents give the Warriors the opportunity to create a new chain.
Even if Golden State doesn’t take into account part of Cubinga’s long-term plan, it can value Cubinga as much as the players given the sometimes sleek fit and the way the team brings him in and out of the starting lineup.
The Warriors need more people in their salary range than any other team.
Three players in the roster earn more than $20 million: Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler and Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, who will make $25.9 million this season, but are a staple in the organization. Contributors Moses Moody and Buddy Hield will receive $11.6 million and $9.2 million next season. Then the numbers shrink. Brandin Podziemski is essentially the equivalent of a veteran’s minimum. The remaining three guys have even fewer grades.
The Warriors need players, they need an ideal salary between Moody and Butler, which gives them a tool of mid-season significance.
Kuminga is young, talented and has enough fans in the league to fit the bill.
“(Of the four restricted people, I have the worst reading volume (Cummingga), especially because the contract and player value seem to be the worst match given the Warriors’ demand for tradable wages,” said one respondent who suggested a $53.5 million deal for Kumiga (with player option). “I personally would give him a slightly higher number than the Grimes, but I think it would be higher – with a cap of about 12% and the initial salary was about $18 million to make the Warriors more tradeable on the two-way salary.”
However, the contract is one of the most modest contracts mentioned in the poll.
There is a two-year contract that pays $22.5 million per quarter.
Four of the three-year deals range from $51 million to a total of $60 million. The two submitted $65 million in three years. Another said $68 million in three years, while another said $70 million in three years.
Five out of 10 people who have three-year contract responses include player selection.
Their reasoning follows the same logic: If Kubinga did not receive a huge contract today, short-term flexibility could help him land as soon as possible. In this case, Kumingga could hire two more seasons before going public again in 2027, when he would be unrestricted and there could be more teams with CAP space.
“If I were an agent, I was trying to make a short-term deal so I could get out of there but still make money during that time,” a team official said.
Negotiators often use comparable contracts to measure what customers deserve. With that in mind, executives who proposed to reach the largest three-year contract ($70 million for $23.3 million a year) cited another young gunman when breaking down the situation in Kubinga.
A year ago, when members of the 2021 draft class with Kuminga were eligible for an extension, he finally agreed to a large contract – although that wasn't as luxurious as the second pick before.
Jalen Green struck a three-year, $105 million deal with the Houston Rockets. His new salary will begin this season. Coomine's proof is not as good as Green. Then, the Rockets' cap situation is more flexible than the Warriors. But this concept is the same.
Jalen Green, who was selected for five positions before Jonathan Kuminga in 2021, offers an interesting analogue. (Troy Taormin/Imagn image)
These are two similarly age-old players who are able to stand out on any given night, but their scoring priority styles also inspire mixed reactions, including from their own teams.
“It feels like a jam green deal that allows him to trade,” the three-year, $70 million contract said. “Absolutely less than he might want, but the player's choice gave him some choice.”
Oh, if Cushinga signed a contract like this: A month ago, Green agreed to his extension with the Rockets and Houston traded him, then Cubinga and Green's traits might have one thing in common: A month ago, Cubinga might have one thing in common.
Since the Rockets lay their money around, they just need to trade Kevin Durant for other important players in other senses Dillon Brooks. A green mid-salary helps acquire superstars.
The greatest scorer in a generation is the best scene. Either way, however, this is an example of green salary, especially when they are suitable for young players with upside, give the organization the option.
The Warriors will want to stay flexible and be ready to upgrade immediately, especially in the case of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green in their 30s. Like anyone, Kuminga wants a substantial payment.
Even if the restricted free agent suffocates anyone entering it, both sides can find a worthwhile compromise.
(Top photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)