Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation remains one of this summer’s biggest unresolved mysteries.
The Golden State Warriors recently strengthened their offer from the initial two-year, $45 million deal they presented to Jonathan Kuminga earlier.
Golden State now offers Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract with $48.3 million guaranteed over the first two seasons.
The per-year salary matches fellow restricted free agent Josh Giddey’s deal with the Chicago Bulls.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesJonathan Kuminga demands player control after witnessing the Houston Rockets trade Jalen Green
Despite the increased offer, Kuminga and his agent remain unsatisfied for two key reasons.
The three-year contract includes a team option for the third year, limiting Kuminga’s control over his future.
More importantly, Kuminga wants to avoid the Jalen Green situation with the Houston Rockets.
Green signed a three-year contract in late 2024 that included a player option on the third year, yet still got traded in the Kevin Durant deal.
“They compared the deal to a lower level version of the Jalen Green deal that Houston signed. Jaylen Green making about $33 million next year and then it’s at a $36 million dollar player option. Saying he got paid by Houston too, essentially also he might be traded. He was traded for Kevin Durant,” Anthony Slater explained.
The Green precedent demonstrates that even lucrative contracts with player-friendly options don’t guarantee job security in today’s NBA trade market.
The message from Jonathan Kuminga and his agent Aaron Turner to the Warriors this week: Flip the team option to a player option and Kuminga will sign deal and buy-in to mission of getting Steph Curry another title.
GSW has been reluctant to add a player option in any offer. pic.twitter.com/V05DRH2ROi
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 16, 2025
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Team option structure creates trade vulnerability Jonathan Kuminga wants to avoid
Kuminga’s primary concern centers on contract control rather than pure financial gain.
If Green, who had more contractual protection than the Warriors’ current offer, still got traded, Kuminga fears similar treatment.
“And they just believe that if Kuminga is gonna sign this and come in and buy in as they wanted, he wants it to be a player option and not a team option. That’s the hold up,” Slater added.
The team option structure means the Warriors could trade Kuminga at any time, especially since his minutes aren’t guaranteed and could potentially decrease his market value further.
Both sides also have until October 1st to reach an agreement about the qualifying offer, especially if Kuminga is really prioritizing career control over immediate financial security.
The deadline adds urgency to negotiations that have already stretched throughout the summer.