In an effort to minimize stress heading into the 2024/25 season, the Warriors decided to hold training camp in Hawaii. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes, that’s not to say there’s no stress, particularly for a couple of former lottery picks.
Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, both members of the 2021 draft class, are eligible for rookie scale extensions until Oct. 21, the day before the season begins. While things could certainly change over the next five-plus weeks, there is currently a gap in negotiations, with no “significant progress” in contract talks for either player, league sources tell Slater.
Kuminga will earn a little over $7.6MM in ’24/25, the final season of his rookie contract, while Moody will earn about $5.8MM. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2025 if they don’t sign extensions.
Slater’s article primarily focuses on Kuminga, who is reportedly seeking a five-year, maximum-salary contract that would pay him 25% of the salary cap starting in 2025/26 (a projected $224MM). According to Slater, the Warriors aren’t inclined to offer that — or any deal that approaches $44.8MM per year.
There’s still a possibility that an extension between Golden State and Kuminga could be reached, assuming the 21-year-old forward is open to accepting less than the max. Slater suggests a deal in the range of “30-ish” million annually could be a “reasonable middle ground.”
Sources tell Slater the Warriors’ front office has been preaching “patience and pragmatism” this offseason as it focuses on roster flexibility. And extending either player would subject them to the poison pill provision, potentially making it very difficult to move them in a major in-season trade. Again, that doesn’t rule out possible extensions, but it’s certainly something the Warriors are cognizant of.
Source link
