Golden State sits tight this offseason as Kuminga’s restricted free agency blocks any real roster upgrades, and Kevon Looney departs for New Orleans, thinning the frontcourt. The wait on Kuminga’s decision — re-sign or explore a sign-and-trade — could echo into training camp and beyond, shaping immediate fantasy value around Curry, Butler and Green.

If Kuminga stays, the Warriors must squeeze more out of a limited offseason, potentially capping upside for the supporting cast. If Kuminga leaves, expect a rotation pivot toward younger wings and depth pieces, with Curry and Green shouldering more responsibility and the door opening for others like Moody or splashes in signings. Either way, Kuminga’s fate is the hinge that could redefine Warriors’ fantasy outlook next season.

The Golden State Warriors remain confident Al Horford will land with them once Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency is settled, with cap and tax considerations at the center of the decision.

Horford could be drawn by the full taxpayer mid-level, or even a two-year deal with a player option, depending on how the Warriors structure their books. Horford’s departure from Boston appears likely, though retirement remains on the table, and a reunion with Boston could become feasible if contention returns. Kuminga’s status is the wild card shaping any Horford pursuit and any cross-continental cap gymnastics.

In any scenario, the cap math and potential option triggers will dictate whether Horford signs, how many veterans the Warriors can afford, and whether Boston pivots to other paths. Fantasy managers should watch how the cap evolves and whether Horford lands with Golden State, which would push Boston to rethink wing and frontcourt depth as the Celtics chase a new window of contention.

Golden State remains in a holding pattern entering the countdown to training camp, with nine guaranteed contracts on the books and a knot tied to Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency. The Warriors can’t lock in spending until Kuminga’s deal lands, leaving cap calculations and roster-building on pause as they navigate cap/tax dynamics and the luxury-tax thresholds.

Al Horford is expected to sign with Golden State, likely via the taxpayer midlevel exception (about 5.7 million) or a two-year arrangement with a player option. His addition would push the team to 10 guaranteed contracts and intensify the need to fill at least four more minimum deals. The linked names—Gary Payton II, Seth Curry, De’Anthony Melton, and Malcolm Brogdon—could populate the minimum slots and diversify the rotation once Kuminga’s situation is resolved.

Whether Kuminga signs the two-year, $45 million offer or accepts the $7.8 million qualifying offer will swing how much room the Warriors have under the second apron of the luxury tax. A landing with Horford under the taxpayer midlevel hinges on that outcome, and the rest of the roster would hinge on those cap decisions. Training camp approaches at the end of September, and the holding pattern should break soon, reshaping both the rotation and fantasy upside for Warriors players.

Golden State is navigating cap space while pursuing a veteran addition, with Kuminga unsigned as rival teams circle. Horford has reportedly given a verbal commitment to join, and Curry, Green, and GP2 are aligned on a reunion, signaling the Warriors’ willingness to add experience around an aging core. Suns, Kings, and Pelicans have flirted with sign-and-trade routes for Kuminga, widening the market and complicating Golden State’s path. The club is also weighing additional free-agent targets beyond Horford and GP2, aiming to keep the roster competitive now and in the near term.

Steph Curry’s push to bring GP2 back and Draymond Green’s buy-in point to a cohesive plan: keep the defensive and playmaking identity intact while layering in Horford’s floor-spacing and veteran savvy. Horford could give Golden State a versatile rim protector with post passing and outside shooting, a valuable dynamic with the current stars. The drama surrounding Kuminga underscores how delicate the Warriors’ balance is as they attempt to maximize both upside and immediate winning.

Jonathan Kuminga’s contract stalemate with the Warriors keeps his fantasy upside in limbo. Kuminga believes he belongs in the same tier as Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes, a claim that clashes with Golden State’s offer and crowding of the salary ladder. The piece frames Kuminga’s path as precarious: a potential $7.9 million qualifying offer this season, a fragile hold on a max-type deal, and a broader market dynamic where Cunningham and Barnes have already established franchise-level value. Meanwhile, Cunningham and Barnes are safely entrenched as core pieces with clear trajectories, and Josh Giddey represents a contrasting case as the one top-6 pick not yet maxed, compounding Kuminga’s pressure to prove his ceiling. For fantasy managers, Kuminga’s situation means risk-adjusted exposure: proceed with caution on long-term shares, gauge his role stability, and watch how the rotation shakes out if a trade becomes plausible.

In practical terms, Cunningham’s breakout with Detroit and Barnes’s ROTY-era ascent in Toronto solidify their stars-at-scale status, justifying their higher fantasy floors. Both have delivered All-Star-level production and meaningful contributions across scoring, rebounds, and assists, validating their top-draw status in keeper and dynasty contexts. The comparison paints Kuminga as an explosive athlete with a sky-high ceiling, but without the same body of achievements, leaving his fantasy value tied to role clarity and contract-driven motivation. The trade rumor angle adds an extra layer: any off-season move could reweight the Warriors’ reliance on Kuminga and spark a new path to peak fantasy upside.