As the Golden State Warriors' stand-off with Jonathan Kuminga continues well into the off-season, numerous possible resolutions to the saga have presented themselves, but none of them are ideal for either party.
Since Kuminga's contract demands stand well above what the Warriors view his value as, the discrepancy essentially guarantees that neither party will be happy with the result of either a re-signing or a sign-and-trade, ensuring some sort of disaster for Golden State this offseason.
Yet, there is still hope that the two can come to an agreement sooner rather than later, mitigating any potential damage this situation may cause.
Warriors are in for a tough Jonathan Kuminga decision this offseason
As the Warriors entered the offseason, all eyes around the league were on how they would resolve the tension between their front office and Kuminga's camp.
Now, almost a month into free agency, no resolution has been found, and recent reports that Kuminga is in no rush to sign any of the team's offers mean that there is no immediate end in sight.
Kuminga views himself as a player with star potential, and is seeking a role and salary this offseason that reflect that, whether that is with Golden State or another team. Therefore, the Warriors had two ideal outcomes to this situation at the start of the offseason: bring back Kuminga and give him enough runway to become an impact scorer or receive a sizable package in a sign-and-trade.
However, bringing Kuminga back would handicap their financial flexibility, at least until they are able to move his contract, putting their signings of players such as Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton in jeopardy.
Moreover, interest around the league in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga has apparently cooled, with teams not willing to meet the asking price of a young player and a first-round pick, meaning that any deal involving Kuminga at this point would likely provide an underwhelming return for the Warriors.
Now, the front office is left with a set of less than ideal options.
Firstly, they can wait out this standoff with Kuminga until he comes to his senses and accepts an annual value around $20 million, effectively guaranteeing that his disgruntlement with the organization will continue into next season and potentially affect his play. This option will also mean that Golden State will not be able to make a move late into free agency, affecting their standing in the market and possibly their relationships with their rumored targets.
Secondly, the team could attempt to move Kuminga for a fraction of the price they could expect at the trade deadline next season, cutting ties in order to move on with an established roster.
There is also an outside chance that Kuminga accepts the Warriors' qualifying offer of one-year, $7.9 million so that he can gain more leverage next offseason, leaving the team with a genuine chance of losing Kuminga for next to nothing.
Therefore, no matter what, there is no serendipitous conclusion to the Kuminga saga at this point, and the team must do their best to find a subpar resolution as soon as possible in order to prepare for next season.