Jonathan Kuminga has long been the Warriors’ most irresistible “what if.” His combination of athleticism and scoring punch has teased Golden State fans with visions of a future beyond the Curry-Draymond era. Now, that potential is colliding with reality, not on the hardwood, but at the negotiation table. And as contract talks heat up, the hosts of 95.7 The Game have zeroed in on the double standards in these Warriors negotiations.

With training camp just two weeks away and the October 1 qualifying offer deadline dominating, the tension has only sharpened. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, has made it clear that a $7.9 million qualifying offer that keeps his client in Golden State until 2026 would not be “a good feeling.” He also floated the idea that a player option could lock in Kuminga’s buy-in, which is a suggestion that had Bay Area radio in disbelief.

“That’s the opposite of being bought in,” said Mark Willard on 95.7 The Game. “Like, give me an option to leave and I’ll be bought in…And it’s reminiscent in a large sense of what he then admitted Jonathan does within games. When they said, ‘Give me minutes, and I’ll rebound. Don’t, and I won’t,'” while co-host Dan Dibley quipped it was like a kid demanding ice cream before eating vegetables. Behind the soundbites, the negotiation is all about control.

Rumors agitated all summer that the Suns and Kings were ready to offer Kuminga a multi-year starting role. Even Miami showed interest. But Golden State’s GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. reportedly shut down both proposals, signaling the Warriors’ reluctance to trade their young forward, at least for now.

Dunleavy Jr. has pushed frameworks designed to keep flexibility firmly in the Warriors’ hands. First came a two-year, $45 million offer with a team option on year two. Then, a fresh proposal was offered, with three years and $75.2 million, including a team option in the third year.

That’s $48.3 million guaranteed up front. Kuminga’s camp pushed back with their own idea: a souped-up one-year bridge deal, higher than the $7.9 million qualifying offer, but allowing unrestricted free agency next summer.

That structure would also give Golden State a more tradeable contract at the deadline. Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob reportedly passed, unwilling to risk losing Kuminga for nothing in 2026. The stalemate is years in the making. Kuminga has been open about frustrations with inconsistent minutes and a role he feels hasn’t matched his talent. His production backs the argument, as over the last two seasons, he has averaged 15.8 points on nearly 50% shooting with 4.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga’s future in Golden State

As a starter, the numbers jump to 17.1 points, 5.1 boards, and 2.7 assists. That’s a statistical neighborhood occupied by players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Johnson. Both of whom have secured lucrative extensions. The catch? Those players also bring elite defense or playmaking. Kuminga’s 1.3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and defense leave questions about his fit in Steve Kerr’s motion-heavy system. Factor in Jimmy Butler, and the tension around Kuminga reaches another level.

Lineups with Butler, Draymond Green, and Kuminga last season were outscored by 36 points in 105 minutes, per PBP Stats. Without Kuminga, Butler-Green pairings were +180 in about 940 minutes and scored at a top-five clip. Kerr’s decision to sideline Kuminga in high-leverage moments reflected that gap. Even when injuries forced him into bigger minutes in the postseason with 24.3 points per game in four contests against Houston, Golden State lost his minutes by 28, and lost the series.

The Warriors’ dilemma is obvious. Kuminga’s athleticism and scoring upside make him their most attractive trade chip, especially as Curry, Butler, and Green age. But locking him into a long-term, big-money deal could clog future flexibility, especially with veterans like Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II waiting in the wings for roster spots. One wrong step with Kuminga could define their season, and maybe the end of their dynasty era. 

Meanwhile, Kuminga’s camp knows his value. They’ve kept the pressure on by flirting with the qualifying offer route. It’s a risky move, but one that forces Golden State to weigh the nightmare scenario of losing a top-10 pick for no return. That possibility alone should keep Lacob, Dunleavy, and Kerr awake at night.

For now, the standoff continues. The Warriors are holding firm, Kuminga’s camp is pushing back, and training camp is creeping closer by the day. Who blinks first? The franchise trying to squeeze every drop out of Stephen Curry’s final years, or the 22-year-old forward demanding his turn in the spotlight?