Why have the Warriors held off on extending Jonathan Kuminga?

Jonathan Kuminga was believed to be seeking a maximum-salary or near-max contract ahead of Monday’s rookie-scale extension deadline, which is why he and the Warriors didn’t agree to terms on a deal, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said Friday on the B/R App. However, Fischer believes Golden State will be comfortable paying Kuminga big money if he shows this season that his impressive stretch from January to March was no fluke and he continues to take strides toward stardom. “The Warriors will be happy to pay Jonathan Kuminga that top dollar if that sample size is stretched out over the entire course of the 2024/25 season,” Fischer said.

Still, Fischer noted that Kuminga isn’t necessarily a lock to remain with the Warriors long-term and suggested two potential suitors worth keeping an eye on for the fourth-year forward. One is no surprise: Brooklyn is currently the only team projected to have maximum-salary cap room and Fischer says Kuminga has “come up” in past trade talks between the Nets and Warriors. The Nets aren’t necessarily specifically targeting the 22-year-old, Fischer clarifies, but their cap situation makes them a potential threat when Kuminga reaches restricted free agency, especially since general manager Sean Marks has shown a willingness in the past to sign RFAs to lucrative offer sheets.



The other team worth watching, according to Fischer, is the Sixers, who would only have a chance to acquire Kuminga on the trade market. Philadelphia has conveyed a willingness to give up draft capital to add another impact player, Fischer explains, and could use KJ Martin‘s pseudo-expiring contract as a salary-matching piece. That sort of deal may not appeal to the Warriors and acquiring Kuminga and then paying him in free agency would result in a massive payroll in 2025-26 and beyond for the 76ers, who already have three players on maximum-salary contracts.

But Fischer suggests Philadelphia has “a lot of willingness” to go deep into luxury tax territory for the right opportunity to “cement (their) title window.” Here are a few more trade notes and rumors from around the league: According to Fischer, Trey Murphy was another player believed to be on the Nets‘ and Sixers‘ radars as a potential free agent and trade target, respectively, but he’s off the table after signing a four-year, $112M extension with the Pelicans. After identifying Celtics guard Jaden Springer as a trade candidate last week, Fischer reiterated that point in his rumor round-up on Friday, noting that moving Springer at or before the February trade deadline would create tax savings for Boston and would open up a roster spot for Lonnie Walker or another player.

Fischer added that the Celtics recently called a number of teams to gauge Springer’s trade value. The Sixers, Heat, Bucks and Suns are among the teams that have spoken to P.J.

Tucker‘s representation about a possible trade , sources tell Kelly Iko and Law Murray of The Athletic. As we relayed on Thursday , the Clippers have granted Tucker’s agent Andre Buck permission to talk to potential trade partners to try to find his client a new home, but the veteran forward’s $11.54M cap hit will make it difficult to find a deal that works for L.

A. This article first appeared on Hoops Rumors and was syndicated with permission..