Latest news with #JonathanKuminga
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Brooklyn Nets not expected to pursue top RFA, could use cap space for bigger plan
The Brooklyn Nets will enter NBA free agency with the most cap space in basketball, giving them an advantage in an offseason where most teams aren't expected to spend heavily. However, one of the top NBA free agents this summer already seems to be off Brooklyn's target list. According to The Athletic's Anthony Slater, the Nets are not expected to even prepare an offer sheet for Golden State Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Instead, Brooklyn could use its financial flexibility to help facilitate multi-team trades. Advertisement Related: Top NBA free agents 2025, see where Jonathan Kuminga lands Jonathan Kuminga stats (2024-'25): 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 45.4% FG, 30.5% 3PT, .08 WS/48 Kuminga had a relatively disastrous contract year. He reportedly rejected a contract extension worth $150 million over five years, betting on himself before becoming a restricted free agent. During the regular season, he fell out of the Warriors' rotation at times (47 games played) and posted a career-worst in Win Shares per 48 Minutes (0.08). However, the 6-foot-8 forward showed more promise with an expanded role in the NBA Playoffs. In eight games, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points per contest, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. With a very limited number of clubs expected to pursue restricted free agents in NBA free agency, Brooklyn seemed like an obvious potential suitor. Brooklyn Nets cap space: Max contract Related: 2025 NBA Draft order, Brooklyn Nets draft picks 2025 Instead, amid NBA rumors of potential blockbuster trades involving Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brooklyn seems inclined to help facilitate a deal. Taking on contracts can help them collect more future draft picks, adding to a stockpile that includes eight first-round picks from 2026-2030. Advertisement As for Kuminga, a thin market of suitors makes it very possible that he'll wind up back with Golden State ahead of his age-23 season. Related Headlines
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Golden State Warriors or not? Jonathan Kuminga reveals his future plans
Golden State Warriors or not? Jonathan Kuminga reveals his future plans (Image Credit: Getty Images) Jonathan Kuminga has the option of considering the offers from other teams as he becomes a restricted free agent this year. The forward found it difficult at times to stay consistent in the game due to Steve Kerr's strategic moves, which kept him on the bench more often than not. This season saw Kuminga in action a lot many times as the veteran roster's injuries required him to step up whenever needed. Jonathan Kuminga shared whether he will be back with Golden State Warriors or not Jonathan Kuminga's bitter-sweet relationship with the Golden State Warriors is not reaching a dead end. At least, this is what Kuminga's new plans suggest. The budding forward proved his mettle whenever given a chance in the 2024-25 season. The season saw him in action more than usual because of Stephen Curry's and LeBron James' injuries. Speculations were rife that Kuminga may entirely part ways with the Warriors, but the reality is different. Kuminga has suggested that he may consider being a Warriors forward in the coming season, too. Talking about his future, he didn't show clarity. He said: 'I don't know. Uh you know, I don't know. I still got to figure it out. I don't know. But, you know, I don't know. I still got to figure it out. We just finished playing one day ago, so I don't really I haven't think about anything yet.' Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Jonathan Kuminga | Warriors 2025 End of Season Interview Later in the interview, he again kept the things not too open and said: 'Uh like I say, you know, uh I ain't know what the future hold, you know, so anything that happened probably happened for a reason. Uh I'm just grateful to be here this time, you know. I still got a long summer to go to figure things out.' Kuminga's current status is that of a restricted free agent. He will have the option to consider the offers from other teams. Hence, the Golden State Warriors need to be ready with the offer he can't refuse, should they want him on their side for the coming season. Jonathan Kuminga's performance this season The budding star from the Golden State Warriors averaged 15.3 points this season. His other performance statistics include 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 45.4%. When Stephen Curry had to take rest due to injury, Kuminga delivered the scoring the Warriors needed. While playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he shone by averaging 24.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over the final four games of the Western Conference Semi-finals. Steve Kerr SOUNDS OFF On Jonathan Kuminga Before 2025 NBA Free Agency However, during the mid-season, his scoring dipped to an average of 12.2 points per game. But it was largely because his time on the court was limited post-Jimmy Butler's entry. In addition, a prior ankle injury also posed hurdles. Also Read: Steve Kerr says Jonathan Kuminga isn't ready for a starring role on a Golden State Warriors team built around Stephen Curry While Steve Kerr is yet to make up his mind about Kuminga's future place in the team, the budding star has kept his options open and is not completely shutting the door on his current team, the Warriors.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What's the latest intel on Jonathan Kuminga and his uncertain Warriors' future?
SAN FRANCISCO — There are essentially three competing agendas within the Golden State Warriors in regard to Jonathan Kuminga's uncertain future: Kuminga's, the win-immediately core's and management's. Their motives agree and overlap in nuanced ways but clash in certain others, generating a complicated month ahead for the organization's biggest-ticket offseason item. Advertisement Restricted free agency gives an extra bit of inherent leverage to the franchise. Klay Thompson, unrestricted and unhappy with his situation, left the Warriors last summer on his own volition. Kuminga can't. If he is to split from the Warriors, he will need a level of cooperation between the front office, his agent, Aaron Turner, and his next team. But this is still the greatest amount of control Kuminga has ever had in his first four professional seasons and the plan is to wield it as best as possible. He's 22, still young enough to believe a mountain of growth is ahead, but old enough in NBA years to be assured in what he does and doesn't want his early prime seasons to look like. Kuminga, league sources said, still has visions of becoming an All-Star, not fitting into an ever-moving mid-tier rotation role. He wants to be a featured player in an NBA offense and chase the 20-point-and-beyond dreams he's spent his life chasing and the last week of his fourth season tasting. With an injured Steph Curry out of the picture, here were Kuminga's averages the last four games of the Minnesota Timberwolves series: 24.3 points on 54.8 percent shooting. He was a powerful 22 of 29 within five feet. He was a respectable 7 of 18 on 3s. He blew through Rudy Gobert for a memorable dunk. He toasted Naz Reid repeatedly in space. He was given the Anthony Edwards assignment on the other end. Jonathan Kuminga, HOW⁉️ 📺 #NBAonABC — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 11, 2025 Kuminga wasn't perfect. The Warriors lost all four games. But he was a primary and productive source of offense in the second round of the playoffs against a great defense. Minnesota had real trouble staying in front of him. That's the type of week that only stokes the belief that Kuminga's career desires are attainable, if given the room to stretch his legs, either with the Warriors or elsewhere. There isn't an irreconcilable player-and-coach or player-and-organization personality clash, league sources said. This is all about finding the contract and opportunity Kuminga craves. Jonathan Kuminga on his relationship with Steve Kerr: 'We've had ups and downs. But he helped me to get here.' Kuminga kept answers about his future vague: 'I don't know.' — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 15, 2025 Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler will make a combined $139.6 million next season. Below them — a three-man core general manager Mike Dunleavy maintains the franchise is committed to building around — there isn't a bunch of higher-priced roster-building tools to use. Kuminga represents the largest one, either through a fourth hefty contract commitment that'll stretch the Warriors near the aprons or a sign-and-trade opportunity that brings back the type of mid-rotation pieces to better round-out a fringe championship roster. Advertisement The last time Curry, Butler and Green were on the court together, they were up 10 in Game 1 in Minnesota and Kuminga was somewhere between the ninth and 11th man, mostly out of the picture. They enter the offseason under the belief they had a chance if Curry's hamstring didn't give and want some roster fortification to give them their best crack at it the next two playoffs. The cleanest path is finding a sign-and-trade scenario that delivers the Warriors veterans who fit the unique Steve Kerr system built around Curry, Green and now Butler — three unique and proven winners. One league source noted the way Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington altered Dallas' fortune two trade deadlines ago as a blueprint. Those two — a steady starting center and versatile wing — made a combined $28.8 million at the time of the trade. Ever since one of Kuminga's early-career breakout games in Chicago, Kerr has repeatedly mentioned the name Shawn Marion as a favorite idealized comparison. Their roster could certainly use a 6-foot-7 slasher who defends every position, pounds the glass, flies around with force and impacts the game without ever needing a play design. But there's a square-peg-round-hole reality that has proven itself out in nearly a half-decade together. Kuminga has acknowledged he must rebound better — activity that usually trickles down to the rest of his game. But he's an on-ball scorer at heart and has trained and built his basketball instincts with that in mind. There is not a current expectation that the Brooklyn Nets are preparing an offer sheet for Kuminga, but there are signs Brooklyn could be willing to use its open cap space as a vehicle to execute multi-team trade scenarios this summer, league sources said. That could open up several avenues and possible suitors for Kuminga, one of the market's most intriguing names. The Warriors' front office, with the help of new cap specialist Jon Phelps, showed some creativity last summer, routing Thompson's departure into a six-team sign-and-trade that delivered Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson (after generating the space for De'Anthony Melton). Advertisement Something similar would check the box for the first two agendas. But that's where it gets tricky. In regard to Kuminga's situation, the 'base year compensation' rule in the CBA is a critical impediment. Assuming Kuminga gets at least a 20 percent raise (he will) and his new deal takes the Warriors over the cap (it will), the incoming salary will only count as 50 percent of Kuminga's outgoing salary for matching purposes. Basically: If Kuminga's next deal starts at $30 million, his next team absorbs it as such, but the Warriors would be looking at a $15 million incoming match. They could exceed it by 125 percent ($18.75 million in this scenario), but if they were to take a dollar more than the theoretical match ($15 million in this scenario), they'd be hard-capped at the first apron. Leaving all the accounting intricacies to the side, here's what matters: That combination punch (the base-year rule plus first-apron cap) significantly limits the amount of sign-and-trade opportunities that can realistically be executed. Other salaries (at full price) could be added. The Warriors' front office, Kuminga's representatives and the league are expected to explore all options into July. But team sources have been hinting that, because of these market and financial restrictions, there's a likely world where the most obvious and prudent path is for them to bring Kuminga back and figure the rest out later. Joe Lacob's belief in Kuminga is well-documented. The Warriors' controlling owner was a major draft-night voice in 2021 when they selected Kuminga seventh. Lacob was seated courtside the entire Minnesota series as Kuminga shrugged off the rust and reminded the world about the scoring talent that resides within him. 'I was listening to the guys behind me tonight give running commentary — T'Wolves fans,' Lacob told The Athletic after Game 5. '(Kuminga)'s the guy they talked about all night long. He's the only guy that could really guard (Anthony Edwards) out there. Did a pretty damn good job. He had a tough situation with the DNPs from the last series, and to bounce back from that, I give him a lot of credit. I'm a big fan of his.' Advertisement After the series, Lacob voiced to Kuminga his continued belief in his future and wanted the young forward to keep an open mind about returning, league sources said. He invited Kuminga to sit courtside with him for the WNBA franchise opener for the Golden State Valkyries. The gesture, broadcast everywhere locally, sent a clear signal to the outside world. That isn't a guarantee of anything. Lacob invited Thompson to play golf the month before Thompson left the franchise for the Dallas Mavericks. But it'll be a high bar to clear for Lacob to greenlight a sign-and-trade where he parts with Kuminga. Dunleavy hasn't been as profuse in his praise and has generated a level of decision-making power made most clear in his execution of the Butler trade last February, which is viewed internally as a big success. He's on record stating his plan to maximize the present. But Dunleavy also has been particular and patient in his asset management and has been clear that he believes Kuminga has a skill set that can help this core. 'I look at the things JK does well,' Dunleavy said at his exit interview. 'Getting to the rim, finishing, getting fouled. These are things we greatly need. We know he can bring those to the table. It's not hypothetical. It's not a guy in the draft that we think can do it. He's shown for four years he can do that. For that reason, we'll try to bring him back.' The 'base year compensation' rule only applies to the summer sign-and-trade. Once Kuminga is trade-eligible again next December, his full salary would count for matching purposes, loosening up some of the handcuffs — while also making negotiations about his starting salary number more nuanced. Kerr has stated an openness to a Kuminga return. He only gave the five-man lineup of Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Kuminga, Butler and Green 12 total minutes together down the stretch of the regular season. It closed a road win against the Los Angeles Lakers together well, but the other Kuminga, Butler and Green lineups didn't have a great output, and Kerr — in an urgent pre-playoff and playoff moment — went away from a rusty Kuminga, just back from a 31-game absence. 'If JK comes back, we will for sure spend the early part of the season playing him with Jimmy, Draymond, Steph,' Kerr said. 'To me, that would be a no-brainer. We didn't have that luxury this (past) year.' Advertisement Curry (37) and Butler (35) will assuredly be managed throughout the regular season. It's very possible that Kuminga, by default, would be given a larger share of on-ball scoring opportunities for long stretches and would only earn more with success. The rest of the roster, as currently constructed, has shown its lack of creation punch. Kuminga, league sources said, hasn't slammed the door shut on a return. Restricted free agency doesn't really allow it. The Warriors have ultimate control, regardless of his desire. But his comfort about the idea is dependent on several factors and there's a month of conversation and eventual negotiations ahead with competing agendas in the mix.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How hard will the Nets dip into the NBA restricted free-agency market?
How hard will the Nets dip into the NBA restricted free-agency market? The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA offseason with a myriad of ways in which they can improve the roster, from the 2025 NBA Draft to free-agency. Brooklyn has four first-round picks to use in the upcoming Draft, but they will have to use free-agency to build the rest of the team around their incoming rookies, but it will be interesting to see how they approach free-agency. "Others around the league have wondered if Brooklyn would dip into the restricted free agent market this summer with players such as Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Santi Aldama, and Quentin Grimes all available," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto wrote earlier in May. Free-agency in this current landscape in the league is usually not about the best players given that those guys usually have player options, but the restricted free-agents are the interesting cases. Per HoopsHype, the best player available this summer that doesn't have a player option is Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner and the run that the Pacers are on right now in the Eastern Conference playoffs, it's safe to say that Turner is returning to Indiana. Giddey, who played for the Chicago Bulls this season, is coming off an impressive season as he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.8% from three-point land. Kuminga, who has had an uneven career during his time with the Golden State Warriors, is coming off a season with averages of 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest while shooting 45.4% from the floor and 30.5% from deep. Aldama, who played power forward and center for the Memphis Grizzlies, has an interesting profile heading into restricted free-agency as he is averaging 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 48.3/36.8/69.1 shooting splits. Lastly, Grimes, who split last season between the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers, increased his status significantly since landing in Philadelphia as he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.3% from behind the three-point line. All four of these players are sure to get significant pay raises this summer, but it will be interesting to see if any of them will be in Brooklyn next season.
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Steve Kerr Reveals Uncomfortable Truth About Warriors Star
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. After the Golden State Warriors swung a blockbuster midseason trade for frustrated six-time All-Star Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, they rocketed into fringe contender status, going 23-8 to close out the regular season and finishing the year with a 48-34 record and the Western Conference's No. 7 seed. Even with an early glute injury to Butler, Golden State survived the best efforts of the more athletic, bigger Houston Rockets in a hotly contested seven-game series. More Golden State Warriors News: Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Reveals Big Offseason Roster Goal But a hamstring strain incurred by 11-time All-NBA Warriors point guard Stephen Curry in Game 1 of the Warriors' second-round clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in combination with Butler suffering from the lingering effects of the glute injury, essentially killed the club's postseason hopes. While head coach Steve Kerr knew what he was getting (more or less) out of Curry, Butler, and nine-time All-Defensive Team power forward/center Draymond Green, the same could not be said for the rest of his team. Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors react against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2024 in New York City. Green may... Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors react against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2024 in New York City. Green may be on the shelf for the Dubs tomorrow. MoreThe biggest question mark heading into the postseason was forward Jonathan Kuminga, who had been demoted to a bench role just before he sprained his ankle in Jan. against the Memphis Grizzlies. When he returned, he continued to play a reserve role for Golden State — until Kerr made him a healthy scratch in the Warriors' regular season finale. Kuminga was a healthy scratch in four of the Warriors' seven playoff games against Houston. During a new interview on 95.7 The Game's "Willard & Dibs," Kerr reflected on the young forward's awkward fit with the franchise. He'll be a restricted free agent this summer. Steve Kerr on confidence in Jonathan Kuminga, reflects on Warriors' playoff run — 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 23, 2025 "Obviously, he's a natural scorer. You saw that in the Minnesota series when he got his opportunity. He scored really well. And that's what he's most comfortable doing," Kerr said. "But with our team and the way we're built, with Steph and Jimmy [Butler], they're going to dominate the ball. [So] what we need from that spot is rebounding, passing, the connection, and yes, we need the scoring, but it has to come within the context of what we're really good at and what we're great at over the last two months with Jimmy and Steph." Against the Timberwolves, Kuminga looked like the tantalizing athlete Golden State selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. In that series, Kuminga averaged 20.8 points on .543/.421/.741 shooting splits, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks. During the three games he played against Houston, Kuminga averaged just 6.0 points on .304/.333/.500 shooting splits, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 16.7 minutes per. "You go down a path and you try to get certain habits that are built and you want them to be consistent. So in Year 4, you would hope that those things are coming. And I would say they have been inconsistent," Kerr confessed. "I'm talking about the rebounding front, and taking care of the ball. I've tried to explain this to the fans and to you guys over the course of the years." More Golden State Warriors News: Warriors Star Has Major Surgery Ahead of Critical Offseason Kuminga's fellow former 2021 Warriors lottery draftee, shooting guard Moses Moody, agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal with Golden State prior to the start of the 2024-25 season. Though Kuminga may have higher upside, his inconsistent rotation role may doom him to a similar contract as a free agent — be it from the Warriors or elsewhere. "The way the team is built, we got two guys in Jimmy and Steph who are two of the best in the league and they're going to have the ball in their hands. We have two guys in Steph and Draymond who are going to turn the ball over quite a bit," Kerr said. "It's just kind of the nature of their games. So the fit with Jonathan, and I've been very open with him about this as well, the fit is a little tricky when he's a guy who needs the ball and he's a guy who turns the ball over a lot. So you throw all that stuff together and as a coach, you just say, 'Alright, what's the best way for us to win? How does the puzzle fit together?'" More Golden State Warriors News: Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Was Brutally Honest With Steve Kerr on Jimmy Butler Former NBA All-Star Calls Out Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr Warriors' Draymond Green Wins Major NBA Honor Warriors General Manager Seemingly Hints at Plan For Jonathan Kuminga's Future For more Golden State Warriors and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
