Kuminga’s contract stand-off puts Golden State at a crossroads: keep him long-term with a larger commitment or risk turning him into a tradable asset with limited upside. A three-year, $70 million extension without a team option could lock in a core piece and preserve future trade leverage, but it risks overpaying and hurting long-term flexibility. The Warriors’ history with sign-and-trade moves, notably during Durant’s era, looms as a blueprint for how Kuminga could still be a linchpin in a bigger deal, or the centerpiece of a rebuild if growth stalls.

In the near term, Kuminga signing the one-year QO would buy time and reduce immediate cap impact, but it would likely push his market into next summer with fewer suitors and less negotiating room for Golden State. The piece argues Golden State should lean into Kuminga’s potential and commit to a multi-year anchor, signaling to the league they believe in his trajectory and preserving a path to a future blockbuster if needed.