Kuminga's holdout keeps the Warriors anchored to a cap-crossroad as training camp looms. He faces two paths: a one-year, $7.9M qualifying offer to hit free agency sooner, or a two-year, $45M deal that meaningfully raises this season's pay but boosts trade risk. Golden State has not pursued sign-and-trade with Sacramento or Phoenix, narrowing options. Until resolved, cap space blocks other moves, delaying veterans like Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton and shaping this season's rotation and long-term plan.

Golden State's 2025-26 outlook centers on Curry and Green as the steady core, with nine players signed and Jonathan Kuminga's future in flux. Horford, Melton and Payton II could bolster defense and depth if Kuminga stays or moves via a sign-and-trade. Green’s upbeat tone and Butler’s offseason pairing with him hint at a deeper playoff push once the roster is stabilized. The Warriors must navigate aging cores, upside, and cap implications for a sharper Western run.

Injuries to Curry and Butler in the previous run underscored the need for reliable wings and veteran glue. If Kuminga remains, he carries seismic upside; if traded, the rotation shifts to balance youth with veteran presences. The mix hinges on Kuminga’s deal, the arrival of Horford/Melton/GP II, and a durable, defense-first trajectory around Curry and Green.

Warriors signal a veteran push after resolving Jonathan Kuminga's status, aiming to bring Gary Payton II back to the Bay and complement a core built around Kerr's defense.

Linked names abound—Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton and Seth Curry among them—while Payton II's efficiency (6.5 PPG on 57.4% FG in 62 games) underscores his fit as a guard/defender duo with Draymond Green. Kuminga's fate will largely dictate how aggressively Golden State pursues the mid-slots.

With Green anchoring the defense and Kuminga developing, the Warriors appear to weigh cap space against depth, prioritizing a plan that preserves their long-term window while shoring up the bench for a West run.