NBA Cap Expert Makes Bold Kuminga-Warriors Prediction
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is expected to eventually, but reluctantly, accept the team-controlled two-year, $45 million offer, according to Bleacher Report salary cap expert Eric Pincus.
The 22-year-old forward has resisted the deal, which includes a team option for the second year, citing the loss of leverage that comes with a player option and its associated no-trade protections. “The only reason Kuminga hasn’t accepted this contract is because he truly doesn’t want to return to the Warriors,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported.
Pincus Calls Kuminga ‘Trickiest Free Agent’
Pincus declared Kuminga the “trickiest free agent” to evaluate this offseason, highlighting the delicate balance between immediate security and long-term flexibility. “While the 22-year-old can take his $8 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, he’d lose about $14 million this season. He’s unlikely to make up that money initially as a free agent in 2026-27,” Pincus wrote.
He added that although turning down the two-year offer could make sense under perfect conditions, the reality rarely aligns with perfection.
“Prediction: The Warriors don’t budge, and Kuminga ends up taking the offer he doesn’t like, which is probably the best decision he can make under the circumstances,” Pincus said.
Kuminga has threatened to sign the $7.9 million qualifying offer, which would allow him to control his immediate future and pursue unrestricted free agency next summer. However, the move carries risk. Accepting the one-year tender would provide minimal financial security if his role diminishes or an injury occurs.
Trade Talks and League Interest
GettyGolden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga attempting to shoot over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray.
Multiple NBA teams have shown interest in negotiating sign-and-trade deals for Kuminga, but Golden State has maintained a firm stance, demanding at least one unprotected first-round pick and a rotation-ready player. Sacramento and Phoenix have already had proposals rejected.
According to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, Phoenix offered Royce O’Neale, Nick Richards, all available second-round picks, and a four-year, $90 million framework. Sacramento’s initial offer included rookie Devin Carter, veteran forward Dario Saric, and two second-round picks, later improving to guard Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick tied to a three-year, $63 million deal.
The Milwaukee Bucks also explored possibilities but balked when Golden State requested Bobby Portis, a coach Steve Kerr favorite from Team USA. The negotiating gap remains wide, with Kuminga’s camp insisting on a player option in any deal.
Kuminga’s Camp Frustration
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Kuminga’s representatives remain firm, unwilling to consider any offer without a player option.
“No Warriors offer to date has come close to the four years and roughly $90 million that Phoenix had been prepared to furnish him,” Fischer wrote.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater added that Kuminga’s camp views the current Warriors’ stance as treating the young forward like a “pawn.”
If Kuminga accepts the qualifying offer by the Oct. 1 deadline, Golden State would lose valuable trade flexibility. The lower salary and no-trade protections would limit the team’s ability to recoup meaningful assets if a future trade becomes necessary.
Pincus’ prediction underscores the likely outcome of this drawn-out saga: while Kuminga may resist, the combination of financial reality and limited options could ultimately force him back to Golden State on terms he does not fully prefer, leaving the Warriors to navigate a delicate balance between player satisfaction and roster control.
Lakers Former Champ Reveals Biggest ‘What-If’ Trade Of Kobe Era
The Los Angeles Lakers had immense success with the duo of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. They went to three straight NBA Finals, winning twice in 2009 and 2010. But even with that success, the Lakers were still looking for a way to improve.
Speaking with Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Gasol revealed his thoughts on a potential Carmelo Anthony trade that would have had a major impact on the team and league for the following decade.
“Obviously we had a great run, three straight years,” Gasol said. “(But) players with different skillsets add something…You can’t really think about who else you would have loved to play with, if (we) would have had Carmelo.”
Gasol also spoke about Anthony’s career as a whole, with the forward being named one of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees for 2025. Anthony played for the Nuggets, Knicks, Thunder, Rockets, Trail Blazers, and eventually closed out his career with the Lakers, finishing 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with three Olympic gold medals.
Gasol On A Potential Anthony To Lakers Move
In 2011, Anthony was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks, but according to him, a potential move to Los Angeles was originally in play. Speaking on Dwyane Wade’s podcast earlier this summer, Anthony said that it was a ‘done deal‘ that he was going to become a Laker.
“The deal was done with the Lakers. Me and Nenê for Lamar Odom and Bynum,” Anthony said. “That deal was done. I never thought about New York.”
Now, discussing Anthony’s Hall of Fame career, Gasol commented on the potential move when asked by McMenamin.
“I don’t know (how) exactly that possibility could have happened,” Gasol said. “But the coulda-shoulda-woulda’s are always interesting, because it’s all imagining of what could be in a different situation with certain people.”
During that 2010/11 season, Anthony was in the prime of his career. He was averaging 25 points on 45% shooting, but adding him to the Lakers’ lineup with Bryant as their main scorer would have been a big change to what Los Angeles was used to over the past decade.
Gasol also commented on the potential Chris Paul to the Lakers trade that never came to fruition. He said that regardless of whether either of these trades were ever finalized, the Lakers team led by him and Bryant would have looked a lot different compared to the one that was on the court.
Praise Of Anthony’s Hall Of Fame Career
Though an Anthony to Lakers trade never came to fruition, the former NCAA champion’s success in the NBA spoke for itself. Now one of the newest inductees into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Gasol discussed some of the aspects of Anthony’s game that make him deserving of the honor.
“Melo was just a very difficult guy to guard,” Gasol said. “I saw a player who was determined, who was hungry, who wanted to continue to not just establish himself but really position himself in a different category. He was always a very aggressive offensive player.”
Offensively, Anthony was one of the best players in the NBA through the first 15 years of the millennium, even with the immense talent in his generation. His isolation scoring was top-notch, he was always liable to drop 40 on any given night, and he was very consistent, mostly during his time in Denver and New York.
Gasol believes that, besides just his scoring, Anthony’s versatility was what separated him from other forwards, whether it was in the NBA or international play.
“(He) was kind of more of that stretch four, the guy who can play the three and four position…Really taking advantage of his physicality, his body, his strength,” Gasol added. “Not just a prolific scorer, but him and Kevin Durant have a unique ability with their size, with their skillset, with their mindset, of really changing the game.”
Anthony’s 28,289 total points are the 10th most in NBA history. He was previously the USA’s leading scorer in international play before Durant broke his record in 2024, but his three gold medals are tied for the second-most ever. Anthony is a six-time All-NBA and ten-time All-Star honoree, and won the 2003 college basketball national championship with Syracuse.
