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Details of the sticking point in contract extension negotiations between the Golden State Warriors and forward Jonathan Kuminga were revealed on Friday.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Kuminga was “aiming for” an average annual salary of $35 million on a new contract while the Warriors weren’t willing to go above “around $30 million.”
The two sides couldn’t reach an agreement prior to the Oct. 21 deadline, meaning that he’ll become a restricted free agent during the 2025 offseason.
While the Warriors will be able to match any offer he receives as a restricted free agent, the lack of certainty surrounding Kuminga’s long-term future with the organization could result in an increased willingness to add him in potential trade discussions before the Feb. 6 deadline.
Sam Amick and John Hollinger of The Athletic reported that NBA executives believe the Warriors are “more willing than ever” to include the 22-year-old in negotiations with opposing teams.
Kuminga averaged a career-high 16.1 points per game last season, but Golden State might have been hesitant to reach his asking price after he maintained a single-digit scoring average in each of his first two years in the association.
He also bounced back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench, a trend that has continued at the start of his 2024-25 campaign. Kuminga was part of head coach Steve Kerr’s opening lineup in his first three appearances of the season, averaging 8.0 points and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 11.1 percent from behind the arc.
He’s improved since heading to the bench, averaging 16.5 points per game in two contests while shooting 12-25 from the field. He also connected on one of his four three-point attempts and hit nine of 10 free throws.
Golden State may not be actively attempting to move Kuminga in the midst of a 4-1 start to the year, but his name could surface in trade buzz if the team struggles after the two sides couldn’t find common ground on an extension before the regular season.
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