Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler delivers confident message amid the ongoing negotiations with Jonathan Kuminga and the team
The Golden State Warriors held their media day on Monday, like many other teams, but with one notable omission: Jonathan Kuminga. The 22-year-old forward has been with the team for the past four seasons after being drafted seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, but it's no surprise that he wasn't in attendance given his current situation.
While Kuminga and the Warriors could've agreed to an extension before the 2023-24 season, they opted to head into the year without a deal, which would allow Kuminga to prove himself more and earn a bigger payday potentially. However, the two sides have not agreed to a deal yet, prompting reporters to ask the Warriors' star players about the situation.Jimmy Butler on the Kuminga stalemate: “It will get handled. I know both sides will be happy in the end.”Golden State's prized 2025 acquisition, Jimmy Butler, took the podium on Monday, after an offseason that was filled with travel and celebration of his friends Lando Norris and Carlos Alcaraz. When asked about the Kuminga situation, Butler expressed his confidence in the two sides coming to terms on a deal. “It will get handled. I know both sides will be happy in the end," Butler said. He expressed that the team loves Kuminga and wants him to be happy. Jonathan Kuminga was the only player from the Warriors' tentative 2025-26 squad absent for an informal minicamp organized by Jimmy Butler, perKuminga doesn't have a contract and remains a restricted free agent despite the Warriors offered a 3-year, $75.2M dealButler is no stranger to a situation like this, as he entered the 2024-25 season with the Miami Heat without an extension after the two sides failed to agree on a price point. Instead of taking it into the 2025 offseason, Butler continued to express his frustrations, as it all ended up leading to him being traded out of Miami to the Warriors at the deadline. The Warriors, of course, don't want to see the Kuminga situation end in the way Butler's tenure in Miami did, especially with all the drama it surrounded the team with. Butler ended up getting a two-year extension with the Warriors, putting him on the same timeline as Steph Curry and Draymond Green."I've been in this league for 15 years, and that will get resolved, I know both sides will be happy in the end., we all love JK and we also want him to be happy."As for what's known in the Kuminga contract saga, based on reporting, the Warriors currently have a mix of two and three-year deals on the table, as well as the qualifying offer that would position Kuminga to enter unrestricted free agency in 2026. The two most lucrative offers, three years, $75.2 million, and two years, $45 million, both include team options in the final season. Kuminga's agent, Aaron Turner, has expressed that it would be a done deal if Golden State were willing to change that to a player option, but has also said he'd agree to the terms if the compensation were higher.• 2 years, $45 million – includes a team option on the final seasonThe deadline for the qualifying offer to be accepted is set for October 1st, this upcoming Wednesday, so the wait will finally end then.A 2024 graduate of the University of Miami, Liam spent several years covering the University’s football and basketball teams. An avid basketball fan, you can find Liam on X @theleftyliam where he’s constantly sharing his thoughts.
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