Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: NBA, Steph Curry , Basketball
Chris Nee
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga was among the players who stepped up to the plate when the team's talismanic point guard missed four playoff games in this year's NBA finals but might not be with the team when the new season comes around.
Steph Curry sat out the last four games of the Western Conference semi-finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the Warriors were beaten in five games to bring their season to what they believed was a premature conclusion.
With the season over, thoughts soon moved to plans for next year.
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Drafted in 2021, Kuminga's rookie contract expires this summer and he is a restricted free agent.
It was reported that the Warriors would look to meet his qualifying offer terms before trying to move him on in a trade.
But Kuminga is understood to have rejected the Warriors' offer of a new deal, remaining on the RTA list instead of leaving his destiny in the hands of the team.
"The explosive forward is reportedly pushing back on the franchise asking him to waive a no-trade clause that would be pre-built into the contract under the terms of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement," claims Warriors Wire via Yahoo! Sports.
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"Kuminga's reluctance is reportedly due to not wanting to concede too much control to the Warriors' front office. By waiving the no-trade clause, Kuminga wouldn't have any control over where the franchise sent him.
"Kuminga has reportedly explored his options this summer, including conversations with both the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings over what a potential role would look like."
While Kuminga might yet be forced to sign the deal by the lack of an acceptable trade offer to the Warriors, there's not much indication that his future lies in San Francisco.
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Curry said after the Warriors' finals exit that he wishes Kuminga well 'wherever' he ends up playing.
Back in April, the NBA's highest-paid player leapt to the defence of Kuminga, who had faced criticism at times prior to Golden State's win of the LA Lakers.
"I think we need to just let this guy play basketball," said Curry. "We don’t have to have a declaration after every game. We don’t have to be in a situation where we are judging every minute he’s out there."
The 22-year-old was part of the Warriors team that won the championship in 2022, defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the NBA Finals at the end of his rookie year.