The Warriors held media day with all the players currently on contract. Al Horford was not around to speak as a Dub yet but his new teammates were excited. But neither was Jonathan Kuminga. His absence speaks volumes about the continuing holdout over his contract. Stephen Curry was optimistic about his teammate but observers aren’t. Jeff Teague is like most of us, wishing for one of the parties to end this saga so we aren’t going into the 2025-26 season questioning if every problem is because of the Kuminga problem.

Jeff Teague has spent most of the offseason on Club 520 pleading with the Warriors to trade Kuminga already. This week, his opinion hasn’t changed, he’s redirected the target of his frustration. “I think he’s [Kuminga] holding them hostage a little bit. I mean, they got the signings that they wanted. Yeah. I’m glad to see they got Al Horford. I think that’s a good signing for him, a multi-year deal as well,” The Hawks star said.

Hostage is a harsh term for the stalemate but not undeniable. Offers and counters were made. The Warriors recently made a $75.2 million offer but with a team option. He is also being offered a two-year, $45 million deal with a team option and $54 million deal without options. Kuminga wants to protect his player option and refused whatever they offered.

To Teague, the Warriors have already got what they need in Al Horford and the dual commitments for Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton. He’s thrilled in fact to see these three players on the roster.

Teague predicts a four-year deal for Horford, whose contract details aren’t public yet. At least Payton’s and Melton’s contracts are contingent on Kuminga, according to the reports before the media day. Teague now believes though that Kuminga won’t be getting what he wants anymore.

Jonathan Kuminga’s options are limited, Jeff Teague claims

“I think they’re kind of nervous,” Teague said about the Warriors. An understatement if there is. Though they put on a reassuring stance, it’s very likely the team feels as much anxiety as the fans feel right now. Even Teague says, “They can’t go into the season with this team like that… He’s too valuable of a piece.”

The Warriors and the team ownership want to hang on to Jonathan Kuminga for his potential. His agent, Aaron Turner created a stir on media day by talking directly to The Hoop Collective podcast. “If [the Warriors] want to win now, if you want a guy that’s happy and treated fairly who is a big part of this team, we believe, moving forward, you give him the player option.” Turner added that Kuminga would accept the $8 million qualifying offer unless the Warriors offer better terms.

Stephen Curry responded that he doesn’t listen to agents’ chatter. He’s confident Kuminga will be back and be ‘locked in’ for the season.

Teague is not as optimistic. A few days ago, he once again threw a suggestion in the air that the Dubs should trade for Kuminga. He believed taking Sacramento’s offer to trade Malik Monk for the young forward would be a “fire addition” to the team.

However, right after, the team closed in on Al Horford. The Malik Monk offer became instantly redundant and Teague sees only uncertainty for Kuminga. “I don’t even know what team would want him,” he said before proposing other draft scenarios. The reality is, he doesn’t know what the Warriors could get in return for Kuminga anymore now that they have Horford, Melton, and Payton.

That’s narrowed down the Warriors’ cap space and Kuminga’s alternate options. But the holdout still rages on.