Golden State is pressing Jonathan Kuminga to take the two-year, $45 million offer laid out this summer, while Kuminga is demanding roughly $30 million per season and a Year 2 player option. The stalemate could stretch into September, with the Warriors hoping a team-friendly deal clears the way for a sign-and-trade and Kuminga bet on himself toward a bigger deal as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Oct. 1 looms as the deadline to accept the qualifying offer for 2025-26, adding urgency to keep him in Golden State or pivot via a trade.

The market for 2021 draftees is heating up: Jalen Suggs just secured five years and about $150 million, Franz Wagner landed a five-year, $224 million extension, and Kuminga’s camp is watching those contracts closely. Whispers around a Josh Giddey-linked trade add spice to the drama, suggesting either side could leverage the stalemate into a broader package. The dynamic shapes not just Kuminga’s future but how the Warriors approach their roster moves this season and beyond.

From a fantasy lens, the outcome matters: Kuminga’s role and minutes could swing based on a resolution, and his value will shift with any destination or the leverage of a sign-and-trade. If he returns to a starting role, expect elevated usage and occasional star-turn nights; if a move materializes, his fantasy ceiling will hinge on where he lands and how quickly a new coach and system unlocks his two-way upside.