Jonathan Kuminga bucked a trend among NBA players when he turned down the latest contract offer from the Golden State Warriors.
Jonathan Kuminga is willing to stand on business when it comes to his future. The Golden State Warriors haven’t gotten many offers in restricted free agency, but he isn’t going to lie down and just accept his old team’s offer.
It’s not like the Warriors haven’t tried to land Kuminga with an offer aside from the qualifying offer. The Warriors offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million contract.
However, the star turned down the offer. Kuminga wants to earn $30 million a season from his next contract and isn’t budging.
Kuminga and his agent have made their stance very clear. As things stand, they do not have any plans to make any changes to their demands.
But what is one of the big reasons Kuminga turned down the Warriors’ contract offer? Well, it’s so the star can have control over his future.
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty ImagesJonathan Kuminga refused to give up no-trade clause in new offer
According to Marc Stein, Jonathan Kuminga refused his contract offer from the Warriors for two clauses. First, he didn’t want a team option on the second year of his two-year deal.
But more importantly, Kuminga refused to give up his no-trade clause in the first year of the contract. Kuminga knows the Warriors want to trade him and wants to control which team he joins.
“Kuminga has been unwilling to date to accept Golden State’s offer of a two-year deal in the $45 million range.
“The 22-year-old’s resistance stems in part from the Warriors’ insistence that such a deal include a team option in Year 2 and their request that Kuminga waive the right to block trades in Year 1…
“When a player signs a one-year deal with the same team with whom he finished the previous season, such players are granted veto rights on trades without possessing an actual no-trade clause because any trade forces them to relinquish their Bird rights.
“A two-year deal with a team or player option, like the one Golden State offered Kuminga, is essentially treated as a one-year deal in such cases.”
10 NBA players gave up their no-trade clauses to sign contracts
Stein also added that fellow NBA insider Keith Smith helped him put together a list of players who agreed to the terms Kuminga turned down. 10 players agreed to these conditions, signalling a trend in the NBA.
“The Warriors, mind you, are hardly alone this offseason in trying to nullify those veto rights on what amounts to a one-year deal.
“I asked my pal Keith Smith to help me compile a list of the One-Year Birds this summer who have already waived their veto rights on trades for the 2025-26 season, and Professor Smith came up with a whopping 10 names:”
Eric Gordon (76ers)Jeff Green (Rockets)Jaxson Hayes (Lakers)Chris Livingston (Bucks)Doug McDermott (Kings)Jordan McLaughlin (Spurs)Kevin Porter Jr. (Bucks)Taurean Prince (Bucks)Garrett Temple (Raptors)Gary Trent Jr. (Bucks)
Perhaps Jonathan Kuminga is trying to buck this trend to get more control over his career. And whatever you may think of the approach, you have to respect his gumption.
This situation has cost both sides quite a bit, not just in terms of money. The Warriors put their offseason on hold for Kuminga, not making any signings or trades just yet.
On the other hand, Kuminga is missing out on representing the Congolese national team because of this stalemate. It would be best for both sides to come to an understanding soon to avoid further collateral damage.