The Golden State Warriors opened training camp week without one of their most important young players. Jonathan Kuminga, still unsigned, is skipping media day as contract talks remain unresolved just three days before the qualifying offer deadline, ESPN reported.
Kuminga, 23, is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 47 games. Despite his growth, negotiations with the Warriors have dragged on through the summer and into the start of the preseason calendar.
At the center of the impasse are the structures of Golden State’s contract proposals. The team has multiple offers on the table, including two that run into the mid-$70 million range, but both carry team options in the final year. The only deal without such a clause is for three years and $54 million.
Kuminga’s representatives have been reluctant to accept any agreement with a team option. They are pushing for a player option, which they believe would signal long-term faith in his role after years of fluctuating minutes under head coach Steve Kerr and uncertainty surrounding potential trades.
Read more: Warriors Signing 2 Top Remaining Free Agents After Al Horford Deal
The alternative for Kuminga is the one-year, $8 million qualifying offer that expires Wednesday night. Signing it would mean leaving significant guaranteed money behind, but it would grant him an inherent no-trade clause and a path to unrestricted free agency in 2026, when several teams are expected to have cap space.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke with Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, on Sunday, according to reports, but the two sides did not bridge the gap. Golden State has shown no indication it will add a player option to any deal.
The dispute has rippled through the rest of the roster. Veteran center Al Horford reached a multiyear agreement with the team over the weekend, but cannot officially sign until the Kuminga matter is settled. The Warriors also secured commitments from Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton, whose training camp availability is still uncertain.
Read more: Warriors, Al Horford Finally Agree to Terms
Golden State has 13 players under contract, including rookie guard Will Richard, and planned to make Kuminga its 14th. The front office has also spoken with guard Seth Curry, but further additions hinge on how Kuminga’s contract is structured and the team’s positioning under the league’s second apron.
Drafted seventh overall in 2021, Kuminga was once billed as the franchise’s bridge to the future. Now, just days before the deadline, the Warriors face the possibility of losing him for nothing in a year if no agreement is reached.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.