With the October 1 deadline looming and Jonathan Kuminga decides his contract identity, the Sacramento Kings is back. According to track and field Sam Amick, the Kings and the Warriors revisited the signature discussion centered on the 22-year-old forward.
“Earlier this week, the dialogue between the two sides was renewed,” Amick reported. Sacramento has been persevering, providing a package that includes veteran guard Malik Monk and a lottery-protected 2030 first-round draft pick in exchange for a chance to sign Kuminga for a three-year, $63 million deal.
However, the Warriors had little enthusiasm for monks, with three years left on their contract and $600.6 million left. Golden State would rather flip the monk elsewhere, but because of the Warriors, league executives hesitated. As Amick points out, “Ultimately, it may depend on whether the Kings are willing to use it as an unprotected first-round pick.”
Golden State University has provided its own offer for Kuminga. Two of them are the most notable: a three-year, $75.2 million contract in third grade, or a two-year, $45 million contract in the second year, and a team option in the second year. Both depend on team control, and Cushinga and his camp strongly objected. They have objected to no player choice, and the Warriors’ demands have waived the no trade clause related to the second deal.
As a result, Kuminga threatens to sign a one-year eligibility offer worth $8 million, with built-in untrade clauses and will make him an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
For the king, pursuit is still an opportunity. Sacramento believes Cushingma is a potential cornerstone that can develop into the protagonist. With uncertain futures between Domantas Sabonis and Zach Lavine, the Kings think Kuminga can “take the ball in his hands and be one of the top two players on the roster.”
One way or another, the deadlock will be resolved soon. By October 1, Cushinga must decide whether to accept Golden State's proposal, Sacramento's pitch, or bet on himself with a qualified offer.
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