The Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has finally signed a 2-year $48.5 million contract to stay in the Bay Area to finally end the summer-long drama.
Or has it really ended?
Movements at the Bay
Before the NBA Media Day yesterday, last September 29, it was announced that the Warriors will officially sign 3 key players: Al Horford, Gary Payton II, and De’Anthony Melton.
The news also broke out today that Seth Curry will be the 15th player for the Warriors and will be part of the Warriors’ training camp.
The 39-year-old Horford has won a championship with the Celtics back in 2023, while GP2 has been with the Warriors since the 2021-22 season, where the Dubs won their 4th championship in the last 8 years. Melton, however, has only suited up for the blue and gold last season in just 6 games before tearing his ACL and was traded to Brooklyn for Dennis Schröder.
Lastly, Seth has played with the Dubs during their 2013 Pre-Season and in the Warriors G League team, Santa Cruz Warriors, in the 2013-14 NBA G-League season.
With these very late offseason movements from the front office, the Warriors were able to somehow salvage their horrible summer as they were the only team not to have any trades or signings during the first few days of the NBA Free Agency last June to July.
Horford reportedly signed a 2-year $11.7 million deal with a player option in the 2026-27 season. Both Payton II and Melton have a 1-year veteran minimum contract with the Warriors. Seth also presumably has a 1-year vet minimum contract.
And today, October 1, the latest signing in San Francisco, California, is the 22-year-old 2022 champ Kuminga has finally signed his pen to the multiple pending contract offers from the Warriors front office.
“Temporary Excitement” before Trading Him in January 2026 (?)
As per the report of NBA Insider Shams Charania, despite the Dubs securing the services of JK for the upcoming 2025-26 season, it appears that both the management and Kuminga himself have agreed to part ways by mid-January 2026.
“Now, both sides understand the likelihood of exploring trades when Kuminga is eligible to be moved in mid-January. As part of the deal, he is waiving his inherent no-trade clause.”
In previous reports, the Warriors front office has turned down offers from both the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings in hopes of landing Kuminga last September 17.
The offers reported by Shams were:
- 4 years from the Suns
- $80 – $88 million
- Royce O’Neal and multiple 2nd Round Picks
and
- 3 years from the Kings
- $63 – $66 million
- Malik Monk and a 1st Round Pick
With today’s latest development, die-hard Warriors fans can only have temporary excitement seeing the high-flying athletic wing suit up for the Warriors one last time before parting ways come early next year.
This could also mean that the Warriors are still looking for better offers other than the Kings and the Suns in order to secure their future before they finally let go of their former 7th Overall Pick.
SIGNING does not equate to APPEAR
Despite this great signing for the Dubs, having Kuminga sign a contract extension does not fully equate to him SUITING UP and PLAYING GAMES for the Warriors.
The 6-foot-8 player from the Democratic Republic of Congo has missed both the Media Day and the 1st ever practice with the Warriors as he finalizes his deal.
But is that already a hint at what to expect from him this season?
For all we know, sitting out of the games, begging not to play, faking an injury, or using “Load Management” as an excuse has been infamous in the NBA before.
We’ve seen Kawhi Leonard do this, Paul George, and the greatest of all, Ben Simmons.
So even if this new deal allows GSW to retain their last first-round pick in the 2020s, there’s still no assurance he’ll sit out until his eligibility kicks in by mid-January 2026.
Enough for a Championship #5 for Curry and Green?
With Horford, Payton II, Melton, Seth Curry, and potentially Kuminga all PLAYING for the Warriors, is this team even good enough to make it to the Play-In Tournament and possibly go for their 5th championship?
The answer is much more complex than expected.
YES THEY CAN, if and only if the veteran experience of these players they have who are aged more than 30+ years old, can be more beneficial rather than being a disadvantage.
The Warriors should also find a way to fully integrate their young pieces in establishing that they are the future of the franchise, primarily: Brandon Podziemski, Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Mosses Moody.
Their time is now more than ever.
NO THEY CANNOT, This is because due to the fact that the vets they have on the team are all washed. The Warriors front office wouldn’t do the “win now” situation with the team in trading their young core to a superstar in the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Both Steph Curry and Draymond Green are also at the particular year of their career wherein they aren’t in their elite form anymore, and having them start off the bench can be now heavily considered more than ever.
