Jonathan Kuminga has been one of the most efficient players for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors rely on his defense and scoring when Jimmy Butler is out on the court.
While the future is bright for the 22-year-old forward, the Warriors will need to evaluate if he's fit for the team.
Warriors' Salary Cap Issues Pose Dilemma
Golden State's payroll is overflowing. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are going to collect almost $140 million together next year, according to The Sporting News. Tack on Buddy Hield and Moses Moody's deals, which bring the total to more than $20 million, and the Warriors are bound to be functioning deep into the luxury tax range.
Signing Kuminga back, as reported to be in search of a deal that is close to $30 million a year, would drive the Warriors deeper into debt. Though there is no doubt that Kuminga has a promise, not offering him an extension in mid-season is a sign that Golden State may be reluctant to pay his asking price.
Read more: NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Could Trade Austin Reaves For Michael Porter Jr., But That Won't Be Easy
Brooklyn Nets Looking to Sign Kuminga as Top Priority
If the Warriors stall, the Brooklyn Nets will be ready to strike. The Nets are coming into the offseason with ample cap space and are fully rebuilding, so they are the perfect destination for a young, high-ceiling talent like Kuminga.
Kuminga won't ask for max dollars, but the Nets can give him a little more than Golden State will, signing him and still having enough cap maneuverability to sign another star.
Brooklyn's plan may also include allowing Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe to leave as free agents, generating even greater cap space to work with.
Kuminga's Latest Performance With the Warriors
According to Blue Man Hoop, Kuminga's return to Golden State was promising after he contributed 18 points in just 20 minutes of playtime.
While this was impressive, it was important to note that he had two turnovers. He even had a flagrant foul in the third quarter to make it worse.
Jimmy Butler doesn't like playing with Kuminga... Just look at his body language when Kuminga committed the flagrant
— Kev (@OCNiner49) March 19, 2025
"I'm not giving Kuminga playing time if we're trying to win a championship and he's not up to the standard of the other players. We continue to make this more about Kuminga than the Warriors, and I'm out on that."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) March 19, 2025
-@Steinmetzsports via Steiny & Guru
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