While Jonathan Kuminga and his representation have spent most of the summer negotiating potential situations for the restricted free agent wing, including a sign-and-trade or a new contract in Golden State, one option that has loomed is the qualifying offer.
Since June, the 22-year-old G League Ignite product has had the opportunity to sign a $7.9 million qualifying offer with the Warriors. If Kuminga takes the qualifying offer, he will essentially carry a no-trade clause for the 2025-26 season and will hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026.
While Kuminga and the Warriors are attempting to agree on a contract extension with multiple offers reportedly on the table, Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, recently discussed the potential of the qualifying offer.
In an appearance on ESPN’s “The Hoop Collective” with Brian Windhorst, Turner admitted the qualifying offer is “real” and being considered. Turner explained that there is “upside” in signing the qualifying offer with Golden State.
Via The Hoop Collective:
The QO is real. It’s something that If JK wants to take it, it does have upside, right? We’ve talked about that. You’re not getting traded. You’re going to have unrestricted free agency in a year. People are going to say, ‘Well, Aaron, there’s not going to be 10 or 12 teams.’ Fine, there’ll be six teams with cap space for the clear-cut under-35 top wing on the market. So there’s a lot of upside if he want’s to pick where he wants to go and the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent in a way better market.
Kuminga is entering his fifth season in the association after being drafted by the Warriors with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. In four seasons with the Warriors, the 22-year-old has averaged 12.5 points per game on 50.7% shooting from the field to go along with four rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Jonathan Kuminga’s agent explains upside in potentially signing qualifying offer
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
