Golden State is treading water in free agency as the Kuminga contract standoff dampens the market. Kuminga envisions roughly 30 million per season, while Golden State has dangled a two-year, 45 million offer with a sign-and-trade path that could unlock flexibility down the line. The wait comes as Kevon Looney signs with the New Orleans Pelicans, thinning the Warriors’ interior and pressuring the frontcourt rotation.

The stalemate also drags Al Horford into the mix. ESPN's sources describe a real possibility that Horford retires if the holdout continues, even as the Celtics show no current plan to bring him back. Horford’s veteran leadership figures into Golden State’s calculus, but at 39, the Warriors may yet pivot to younger players rather than a stopgap signing.

With the veteran logjam and Kuminga’s pay-demand, Golden State’s path to a more dynamic roster remains uncertain. The drama underscores how a single negotiation can ripple across the league, shaping not just the Warriors’ floor but fantasy projections for Kuminga, Looney’s successor, and any veteran addition the Warriors might pursue.