Warriors taking hard stance in latest Jonathan Kuminga negotiation news

Golden State is drawing a line in the sand as it continues to suss out its negotiations with restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors taking hard stance in latest Jonathan Kuminga negotiation news originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Golden State Warriors are drawing a line in the sand as they continue to suss out their negotiations with restricted free agent power forward Jonathan Kuminga this summer.

Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Golden State would be happy to get rid of the 22-year-old former lottery pick in a sign-and-trade — were the returning assets right.

"But Golden State, sources say, is not open to amending its stance on the second year of the two-year, $45 million offer it has extended to the 22-year-old swingman," Fischer cautions. "The Warriors are insistent that Year 2 is a team option; Kuminga would naturally prefer a player option."

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Per Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of ESPN, Kuminga was tendered a contract in the vicinity of $90 million across four seasons, including a player option. The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are the two teams known to have been in the running for the 6-foot-8 pro's services.

That said, the Warriors have had some big caveats in discussing potential Kuminga deals: namely, they don't want to ditch sharpshooter Buddy Hield or Kuminga's fellow 2021 lottery pick Moses Moody as part of a Kuminga sign-and-trade deal

"Golden State values both players quite highly, sources say, while maintaining high expectations for both Hield and Moody to be consistent contributors who prove reliable in providing the necessary spacing to boost the Warriors' half-court offense in the postseason," Fischer notes.

Across 47 healthy games last year, Kuminga averaged (10 starts), Kuminga averaged 15.3 points on .454/.305/.668/ shooting splits, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.8 steals. for the 48-34 Warriors. He's an athletic finisher, but his inconsistency as a shooter and defender have made him a tough fit on a win-now Golden State roster.

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Category: Basketball