Kuminga will miss the Warriors media day: Rejects all three offers, final decision countdown underway

On September 29 Beijing time, according to joint reports by insiders Shams and Slater, the contract impasse involving restricted free agent Kuminga and the Warriors continues into the NBA new season schedule. League sources informed ESPN that Kuminga did not go to San Francisco over the weekend and will skip the media day event set for September 30 (Beijing time). Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy has contacted Kuminga's agent Aaron Turner, but before the team's first training session on October 1, no progress has been made in contract talks nor agreement reached on his return.

Sources indicate that the Warriors still have three unaccepted offers on the negotiation table. The two highest salary proposals are a "two-year $45 million" deal and a "three-year $75.2 million" deal, both including a team option for the final season; the only offer without a team option is a "three-year $54 million" contract.

Kuminga resists contracts containing team options unless the salary is increased. His stance communicated to the Warriors is that including a player option would be seen as a goodwill gesture from the team—Kuminga’s camp has previously stated that over recent years his role with the team has been “unclear,” and he expects unstable playing time next season under coach Kerr, with a possibility of being traded midseason.

In these negotiations, Kuminga’s strongest leverage is the one-year qualifying offer worth $7.9 million. Choosing this offer means he would forgo an additional $15.3 million next season but gain a “trade veto” clause and become an unrestricted free agent in 2026—at which point at least ten teams will have salary cap space, posing a risk for the Warriors to lose this former No. 7 pick for nothing next summer.

The Warriors made their current offers precisely to avoid this scenario. However, team sources say the Warriors remain firm on not including a player option in the contract, expecting Kuminga to decide by Wednesday night local time: either accept one of the team’s offers or return under the qualifying offer. Meanwhile, preliminary sign-and-trade talks with the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings regarding Kuminga have stalled with no new developments.

Due to Kuminga’s contract issues, most of the Warriors’ roster construction this summer has been put on hold. However, according to Al Horford’s agent Jason Gluson speaking to ESPN, Horford has committed to signing a multi-year deal with the Warriors as of Sunday; meanwhile, the Warriors have also reached agreements with veterans Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton. Horford’s final salary depends on the outcome of Kuminga’s contract, so this player, considered the “starting center,” must wait for Kuminga’s situation to resolve before officially signing and joining training.

It remains uncertain whether Melton and Payton II will participate in the team’s first training session. With the signing of second-round rookie guard Will Richardson completed, the Warriors currently have 13 confirmed roster members. The team plans to make Kuminga the 14th member, but he must finalize his contract decision before the qualifying offer deadline Wednesday night.

The Warriors have also negotiated with Seth Curry previously, but whether they can sign a 15th player while keeping the salary below the “second luxury tax threshold” depends on the specifics of Kuminga’s contract structure.