Browsing: Jonathan

If the Warriors are to reach their goals in the 2025-26 NBA season, Jonathan Kuminga figures to be a big reason why.

But, as Golden State coach Steve Kerr sees it, thereâ€s still a sizable hurdle for Kuminga to clear: playing effectively with Warriors stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. And in Sundayâ€s 111-103 preseason win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kerr wasnâ€t impressed.

“Well, there wasnâ€t much spacing, which is the big concern,†Kerr said of the Kuminga-Big Three lineup in his post-practice press conference Tuesday. “But weâ€ve got to continue to give them some looks.â€

Kuminga finished with five points in 15 minutes on Sunday, days after signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract to remain with Golden State after a prolonged restricted free agency. However, the Warriors†offense seemed to sputter when he shared the floor with the teamâ€s other stars.

“It still feels to me like if weâ€re trying to play Jimmy, JK [and] Draymond, just from the other night, immediately…the spacing was not great,†Kerr said. “And it puts pressure on our offense to really have to execute. But itâ€s early in camp, too.â€

Neither Kuminga, nor Green nor Butler, is considered to be a strong 3-point shooter, which limits how far the Warriors can stretch opposing defenses when they all are on the court. Kerr is hoping that the addition of center Al Horford will help solve that problem and let Kuminga find lineups to thrive in.

“I think Al kind of changes the equation here,†Kerr said. “Iâ€m really intrigued to put Al and JK together with Draymond or Jimmy. That lineup makes perfect sense.â€

Kerr added that the Warriors will continue to explore every option in an effort to unlock the 23-year-old Kuminga.

“If we can execute the stuff weâ€re trying to operate, then it can be effective,†Kerr said. “Itâ€s just not a smooth fit.â€

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Shaquille Leonard’s NFL career officially came to an end on Sunday.

The three-time All-Pro linebacker was formally honored by the Indianapolis Colts at halftime of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders after he signed a one-day contract with the club.

It was announced on Wednesday that Leonard was going to retire with the club that originally drafted him in 2018.

Before the halftime ceremony, Leonard gave a press conference with his family in attendance to address his career and decision to walk away from the NFL.

During his ceremony at halftime, Leonard spoke to the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium and thanked them for their support throughout his career.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor honored his former teammate by doing his celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Raiders.

Leonard, 30, emerged as one of the NFL’s best linebackers in his first four seasons after being a second-round pick by the Colts in 2018, registering four straight seasons with 120 or more tackles.

During that span he was a three-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time Pro Bowler and the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

But injuries completely altered the trajectory of his career. He underwent back surgery following the 2022 season to fix a recurring issue, but further injuries to his back—along with a concussion and broken nose—limited him to just three games in the 2022 season.

And when he returned in 2023, it appeared he had lost a step, to the point that the Colts lessened his playing time and eventually released him in November.

He went on to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles but didn’t make much more of an impact in his new home, putting up 23 tackles (two for loss) and a sack in five games (three starts).

Even though Leonard’s career ended much sooner than anyone would have predicted, he made his impact felt in the time that he had in the NFL. His first four seasons stack up with any inside linebacker of this generation, including Fred Warner and Roquan Smith.

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VANCOUVER — Conor Garland phones his dad, Garry, back home in Boston, nearly every day. And on their call before Fridayâ€s game, the Vancouver Canucks winger was raving to his pops about this kid on the team, Jonathan Lekkerimaki,.

“I told my dad on the phone, I can’t believe the jump Lekkerimaki has taken,†Garland explained. “Itâ€s confidence. The shotâ€s the shot; that’s his gift. You know, everybody has a gift. But I think the rest of his game has come a long way.

“I’m not an evaluator, but I just feel like he’s a lot more confident. Three days ago in practice, five-on-five drill in the zone, he just had the puck and was moving with it. Maybe last year. . . he was not being as decisive. I think he can notice it. Heâ€s going to be a big-time player for us. It’s huge that he’s taken a great step for us.â€

Imagine what tomorrowâ€s phone call will be like.

In the Canucks†final pre-season game, in Lekkerimakiâ€s final audition as the 21-year-old tries to make the roster for the start of the National Hockey League season, the Swedish winger blistered a pair of one-timer past Edmonton Oilers†goalie Calvin Pickard as Vancouver rallied to win 3-2 in overtime at Rogers Arena.

Garland scored the beautiful winner, cutting past Leon Draisaitl and underneath Connor McDavid to tuck the puck around Pickard, capping 90 seconds of Canuck possession at three-on-three.

However Vancouver coaches and management decide to configure their roster to be NHL-compliant on Monday, likely stashing some players in the minors because they do not require waivers, it seems impossible that Lekkerimaki wonâ€t be part of the opening-night group when the Calgary Flames visit the Canucks next Thursday.

On a team that started training camp with the objective of finding ways to be more offensive, Lekkerimakiâ€s two slappers on Friday in the full dress rehearsal are indicative of the offensive weapon they are developing in the 2022 first-round pick who scored 19 times in 36 games in the American Hockey League last season.

“Oh, he can rip it,†Canuck Jake DeBrusk said, then compared Lekkerimakiâ€s shot to former Boston teammate David Pastrnakâ€s. “He reminds me of Pasta in some ways. Just his release, right? Pastaâ€s got a little more flare at the end, but the way it comes off his stick. . . you guys saw it tonight.â€

Pickard saw them, but couldnâ€t keep the pucks out of his net as Lekkerimaki zipped one high glove to open scoring with 9.3 seconds remaining in the first period, then overpowered the goalie stick-side on a power play to make it 2-2 at 5:58 of the third.

Another player everybody saw was Braeden Cootes, Vancouver’s 2025 first-rounder who has stubbornly refused to play his way off the team and in his first NHL training camp seems poised to be the first 18-year-old to make the Canucks since Petr Nedved did it in 1990.

Cootes shielded the puck and slid it Lekkerimaki on the opening goal. The prospects were partnered with veteran ex-Oiler Evander Kane.

Canucks head coach Adam Foote and his staff deliberately did not try to “hide†their kids on Friday, and Lekkerimaki and Cootes were hanging on a couple of shifts against McDavid and Draisaitl. But the prospects both finished with 65 per cent expected-goals-for at five-on-five.

The auditioners on defence, a prospects pairing of Elias Pettersson (Junior) and Tom Willander, had a harder time territorially and surrendered a goal to Oiler Kasperi Kapanen on a four-on-two rush in the second period. But they havenâ€t looked overwhelmed since training camp began, although it feels like prospect Victor Mancini, who did not dress Friday, finished ahead of them in the blue-line battle.

None of the three are subject to waivers, so could be designated for the AHL on Monday if hockey-ops wants to protect extra forwards on the NHL roster. But all three of Mancini, Pettersson and Willander will play for the Canucks this season.

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The team finished Footeâ€s first pre-season as head coach at 4-2 and, clearly, built momentum as the players incorporated the coaching staffâ€s instructions to play faster and more aggressively.

“I think it looks really sharp,†Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko said after stopping 25 of 27 Oiler shots. “You can tell guys are on the same page. And that’s a credit to our staff, credit to the guys that have been putting in a lot of  work. The continuity of the team out there seems really strong.

“Obviously, a good team over there (with Edmonton) — a couple of good players. I thought we played with confidence. We played our game. We didn’t kind of sit around and wait to see what they were going to do, so itâ€s really encouraging.â€

The positive vibes emanating from the Canuck dressing room are in stark contrast to the dark mood that accompanied the tumult of last season.

“From a team standpoint — and I know anything I say, it’s going to be directed back to last year — we are a tight, tight group,†Garland said. “We feel like we’re having a lot of fun every day. You guys can see in practice, like, it’s energetic, it looks sharp. A lot of fun during the games. I feel like we’re playing really fast, kind of doing everything weâ€ve talked about with Footy. But again, Thursday night, everything kind of changes.â€

“You take it for what it is,†DeBrusk said. “But as a team in here, the way we came back (tonight) and just the way we kind of stuck to our game was why we have training camp. That was what our focuses were. So, we’re listening and we were seeing results.â€

Starting Thursday, the results count.

FRIDAYâ€S CANUCKS LINEUP

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser
Bains-Chytil-Garland
Kane-Cootes-Lekkerimaki
Oâ€Connor-Blueger-Sherwood

Hughes-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Myers
Pettersson (Junior)-Willander

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Coming off a franchise-best 116-point season and Central Division title, the Jets started 2024-25 so fast and never looked back, but in the end, a six-game loss to the Dallas Stars in Round 2 left them well short of their goals.

The Jets see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders, and why not when your goalie is the best in the world and the reigning MVP of the league? Winnipeg will go as far as Connor Hellebuyck will take them, though his playoff numbers haven’t been as standout for the past three years in a row — and in the series the Jets were eliminated in, he was outplayed by fellow American Jake Oettinger.

Winnipeg is certainly hoping their Stanley Cup window is still open this season, though it’s hard to see them getting off to as fast a start in 2025-26. First, there are the injury holes left behind by Adam Lowry and Dylan Samberg, two key players who will miss at least the first month or more. Then there is the loss of highly productive winger Nikolaj Ehlers, a key second-line contributor who drove that trio with great per-minute output at 5-on-5. He’s in Carolina now, and the Jets weren’t able to replace him from the outside, so they have to make do with what they have within.

As we wrap up our look at the 32 NHL teams in 32 days, we take a look at the Winnipeg Jets.

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  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

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After two years away, ‘Captain Serious’ returns to the NHL, now 37 years old and a member of his hometown team. The idea isn’t that Toews has to jump straight into a key role where the Jets need him to be what he was to the Blackhawks. Toews’ contract is one with a $2 million base salary, plus $5 million in performance bonuses that are mostly games played benchmarks. It’s a big question how well he’ll handle the grind of an 82-game season after being out for so long; for now, he’s day-to-day and will miss their pre-season finale on Friday.

The hope is that by the second half of the season, and certainly the playoffs, Toews is playing a difference-making role down the middle and give the team quality centre depth. Best case scenario is that Toews can end up in the 2C role, and if healthy, he will have to start there with Adam Lowry out until November. If he ends up as their 3C when Lowry returns, that could work out, too. But the worst-case scenario is that the grind is overwhelming, or he can’t stay healthy, which would leave the Jets with yet another questionable hole.

Under-the-radar player to watch: Gustav Nyquist

Losing Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina in free agency leaves a big hole in Winnipeg’s lineup as he was a key line driver on the second unit, and there’s no way to directly fill in for him. Gustav Nyquist is likely to start the season on right wing of the second line, opposite Cole Perfetti, and while two years ago Nyquist was a 75-point scorer in Nashville, he managed just 28 points between the Predators and Wild in 2024-25. This is a 36-year-old player now whose best years are behind him, yet the Jets are hoping he can hang in the top six. If he can stay there all season, it’s because things are going right — best case scenario is that the trio of Nyquist, Perfetti and Toews finds chemistry and gets better as the year goes. But if Nyquist is slow to produce, the team will have to look to Alex Iafallo or Vlad Namestnikov to step up and at that point, the second line could be a sore issue for the team, especially if Toews also struggles.

Acquired in last year’s Rutger McGroarty trade, Yager — the 14th overall pick in 2023 — is graduating from major junior and though he got better as Winnipeg’s pre-season went along, was unsurprisingly sent to AHL Manitoba. The Jets won’t want to rush their top prospects so it wouldn’t be surprising if Yager spends the whole year in the AHL. In time, the hope is that he becomes a second-line NHL centre, but that will take some patience. Yager was a solid producer in the WHL, though his offensive numbers did dip last season and the Jets will be cautious with rushing him along.

1. How will they fare without Adam Lowry to start the season?

Hip surgery has Lowry on the sidelines to start the year, with a target to return in November. This right away will put stress on the forwards, especially the centres, as Lowry is not just a smart and reliable defensive pivot, but also one that can deliver enough offence to hang on the second line when needed. With Toews coming back from two years off and Ehlers gone, Winnipeg’s second line is facing some serious questions and, without Lowry, they don’t have any cover from the third line either. The good news is that of the 11 games Winnipeg plays in October, only three come against teams that made the playoffs last season. On top of Lowry, the Jets will miss key defenceman Dylan Samberg for six-to-eight weeks after he broke his wrist, so how the Jets manage in the early-going with these key injuries will set the tone for the rest of their season. Will they be chasing, or in control, when everyone gets back?

2. Can Cole Perfetti have a breakout season?

Perfetti might be the Jets’ most important X-Factor because he is the only returning line driver to that second unit facing so many questions and concerns. Once the prized prospect in Winnipeg’s system, the 23-year-old Perfetti had a career-high 50 points last season but needs to push that higher and be someone who can elevate Toews, Nyquist, or whoever ends up alongside him this season with his playmaking ability. If Perfetti doesn’t take a step, it’s another concern the Jets have to manage and puts them behind the other contenders in their own division.

The rising salary has the NHL in a weird place, where prior comparables are out the window and new benchmarks are being set. Connor is one of this year’s top pending free agents, and while he won’t push anywhere near Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million, what’s interesting is how the resetting market will impact Winnipeg’s internal cap. Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck are their highest-paid players, both signed for $8.5 million through the 2030-31 season, but the market conditions Connor is negotiating in are wildly different now. With two 40-goal seasons in the past four years (and four 30-goal seasons), Connor ranks 13th in NHL goal scoring over that span and would be a highly attractive free agent — or trade target — if it came to that. But if the Jets have to lose another key offensive contributor, it would be devastating to their standing as a Cup contender.

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Now that heâ€s officially back in the fold, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is ready to build off his promising end to the 2024-25 NBA season.

Specifically, the 22-year-old hopes to refine the chemistry he cultivated with veteran star Jimmy Butler. Speaking to reporters during his media session on Thursday, Kuminga acknowledged the crucial experience he gained playing with Butler in Golden Stateâ€s Western Conference semifinal loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.

“I think itâ€s very important that weâ€re here now, early, trying to figure each other out,†Kuminga said. “And I feel like we actually did [figure each other out] going through that series.â€

When Stephen Curry suffered an injury in Game 1 that ultimately ended his season, the Warriors called on Kuminga to help plug the gaping hole left in their offense. The Timberwolves prevailed in five games, but Kuminga led Golden State in series scoring and shot over 54 percent from the field, while Butler led the team in assists.

That duo figures to play a huge role in the Warriors†upcoming 2025-26 season, and Kuminga wants to do his part in helping his connection with Butler flourish even more.

“Itâ€s very easy and simple to play with Jimmy,†Kuminga said. “And we actually get to sit down more now. I get to go ask him certain questions. How does he like to play? What does he like? I feel like us having a lot of time together, me being healthy, him being healthy, him being here from day one training camp-wise…itâ€s going to help us figuring out certain things about each other going forward.â€

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In the end, Kuminga and his agent settled. They had very publicly stated for months that they would consider the qualifying offer if the Warriors didnâ€t increase their two-year offer, or make it a player option for the second year. Then, with the Oct. 1 deadline looming, Kuminga and his agent took what the Warriors had on the table: Two years, $46.8 million with a team option in the second year. A contract that makes Kuminga a trade target (who has no control over where he lands).

In Warriors training camp on Thursday, Kuminga played it right down the middle and said all the right things about wanting to win and be with the Warriors long term. Here are some quotes, courtesy of NBC Sports Bay Area, starting with the question of whether Golden State is where he wanted to be (after spending part of the summer searching for a sign-and-trade).

“Iâ€m here now. “Thatâ€s everybodyâ€s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future … Itâ€s a business. At the end of the day all that matters is we got it done and Iâ€m excited to be here …

“Helping us win. Finding a way to help us win on both ends. Defense, offense, find a way to be a piece thatâ€s going to help us win games and hopefully a championship.â€

Kuminga likely will be Steve Kerrâ€s sixth man this season, because Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler have to start and they take Kumingaâ€s position on the court (plus thatâ€s too many non-shooters to play together in the modern NBA). That said, if the Warriors are going to shop Kuminga and look to trade him at next Februaryâ€s deadline — and they are — then Steve Kerr has to showcase Kuminga at points in the first part of the season. The challenge is that Kuminga is a ball-in-his-hands, head-down, drive-to-the-paint style player in a Warriors system that emphasizes ball movement, quick decisions, and moving off the ball. Kuminga is not a natural fit for how Kerr wants to play, which has led to the much-discussed tension between the two.

It may not have been what he wanted, but Kuminga taking the two-year, $46.8 million offer was the right move. Kuminga and his agent did what they were supposed to do — everything they could to get a better offer, publicly and privately — but in the end, accepting an offer paying him $22.5 million this year rather than the $8 million qualifying offer is just smart for a player who has never made more than $7.6 million in a season. This yearâ€s salary alone nearly doubles Kumingaâ€s career earnings, it would have been a mistake to leave that money on the table.

If Kuminga wants to land in a better spot where he will be a more featured player, heâ€s going to have to show out to start this season. At least to start, he is saying all the right things.

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SAN FRANCISCO — Two days after ending a 92-day contract standoff with the only NBA organization he has ever known, Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga went through his first practice of his fifth season Thursday afternoon.

Ninety minutes after it wrapped, Kuminga met with local reporters to discuss the oddity of the moment. He just signed a two-year, $46.8 million contract — normally a pledge of loyalty between organization and young player.

But everything about the contentious negotiations and structure of the deal points the opposite way. Kuminga accepted the extra money (his qualifying offer was $7.9 million), but sources said he felt forced into the team option structure. The Warriors also required he waive his inherent no-trade clause.

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So there’s a general feeling that he was signed to be a trade option once he is eligible to be moved in mid-January. Kuminga and agent Aaron Turner also spent much of their summer searching out sign-and-trade opportunities with teams like the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

So two separate questions were presented to Kuminga. The first: Does he want to be with the Warriors long term?

“I’m here now,” Kuminga said. “That’s everybody’s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future. So far that’s my goal. That’s what I want to accomplish. Being here for longer.”

The second: Does he feel like the Warriors want him long term?

“I would say so,” Kuminga said. “Based on me being back here. At the end of the day, let’s see where this takes us. But my focus is this year pushing and actually helping us win. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’m happy, glad to be back.”

Thursday was the Warriors’ third practice of the season. Much of the team had also been scrimmaging together in the few weeks prior. They met in San Diego last week for a minicamp organized by Jimmy Butler.

Kuminga, deep in contract negotiations, didn’t go to San Diego and held off on doing five-on-five summer scrimmage work until he signed his deal. He said he’s a bit behind, but coach Steve Kerr said Kuminga came back in great shape and looked fine in Thursday’s scrimmage, in which Kuminga took part in half.

“It’s a business,” Kuminga said of the contract drama. “At the end of the day all that matters is we got it done and I’m excited to be here.”

Attention now turns to whether Kuminga can help this team reach its goal of climbing back into contention.

“Just helping us win,” Kuminga said. “Finding a way to help us win on both ends. Defense, offense, find a way to be a piece that’s going to help us win games and hopefully a championship.”

Kuminga said he has seen the criticism that he “only thinks about offense” and pledged to be a factor on the defensive end this season.

“If it’s on defense, if it’s an assignment, just go guard the best player,” Kuminga said. “Today we need you to score. Today we need you to guard certain people. That’s what I’m looking forward to and I’m open-minded to it.”

Kuminga changed his jersey number to No. 1 this season. He wore No. 00 his first four seasons. He said he felt like it signified a bit of a fresh start and it was his high school number.

“I feel ready,” Kuminga said.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Teammates were forced to answer questions for Jonathan Kuminga on Monday at Warriors Media Day because of his absence. Coach Steve Kerr fielded a few the next day before shutting them down and turning his attention to basketball. Finally, Kuminga on Thursday was able to speak for himself.

Kuminga on Wednesday ended his restricted free agency that lasted all three months of the offseason and bled into the beginning of training camp, signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract that has a team option on the second year. He went through his first training camp practice Thursday and later addressed the media for the first time since inking his new deal.

The business side of basketball was eye-opening to Kuminga, who turns 23 years old on Oct. 6. The longer it took for Kuminga and the Warriors to agree to a deal, the louder the outside noise grew.

But it was brought down to hush from Kumingaâ€s answers speaking on the situation for the first time.

“Itâ€s part of what we do. Itâ€s a business,†Kuminga said. “At the end of the day, all that matters is that we got it done and Iâ€m excited to be here.â€

The only time Kuminga somewhat hinted at where his head was at during his restricted free agency was when he posted a picture to Instagram story on July 30 of him and his agent, Aaron Turner, that read, “Iâ€ll bet on myself all day #JustKnow†while tagging Turner.

Once Jan. 15 arrives, the Warriors have three weeks to trade Kuminga by the NBAâ€s Feb. 5 deadline. His contract helps the Warriors find an in-season trade partner to move Kuminga if they choose to do so, but he doesnâ€t view his new deal as purely betting on himself.

“I wouldnâ€t say that,†Kuminga said. “But Iâ€ll tell you, me betting on myself is helping us win a championship. And I think thatâ€s our goal and how we all look at it. Iâ€m blessed, Iâ€m glad I got this done.â€

Kuminga was drafted No. 7 overall by the Warriors in 2021, one year after the team took James Wiseman No. 2 overall and the same year they selected Moses Moody at No. 14. A youth infusion appeared to be on the way as Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson entered the later part of their careers.

And then Curry led the Warriors to a championship in Kumingaâ€s rookie year that surprised many, possibly changing the franchiseâ€s plans of whatâ€s best for the present and future of the team. Yet the Warriors have turned down multiple trade offers for Kuminga in the past.

His 2024-25 season was hampered by a badly sprained ankle in early January that kept Kuminga sidelined for more than two months. Kuminga started the first three games of the season and then was back to the bench, starting just 10 regular-season games in total. He has played 258 regular-season games in his career and hasnâ€t even started a third of them.

Which brings everything to the ultimate question: Does Kuminga want to remain with the Warriors and play for one team like his idol, the late Kobe Bryant?

“Iâ€m here now,†he said, throwing up his hands at the podium. “Thatâ€s everybodyâ€s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know how your future will be determined. So far, thatâ€s my goal and what I want to accomplish is being here longer.â€

Kerr on Wednesday reiterated the Warriors will operate through their veteran star trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. He emphasized what he always has for how Kuminga can earn more minutes and have a larger role: Run the floor, rebound and be the best defender he can.

Showing a focus for the small details has fell by the wayside for Kuminga at times over his first four seasons in the NBA. He has shown an affection for playing isolation ball offensively and has missed assignments defensively. Playing that way wonâ€t get him on the court under Kerr, in particular with this roster.

When asked about how he views his role on the Warriors, Kuminga deferred to winning over anything individually.

“Just helping us win,†Kuminga says. “Find a way to help us win. Both ends – defense, offense – just find a way to be a piece thatâ€s going to help us win games and hopefully a championship. Being involved on both sides. Finding a way to have an impact. If itâ€s defense, if itâ€s an assignment, just go guard the best player. Or if they need me to score. … I feel like thatâ€s what Iâ€m looking forward to and I am very open-minded.â€

Kumingaâ€s role isnâ€t expected to change much, but over the course of a season, he can be a highly valuable player for a team run by players in their mid-to-late 30s. Heâ€ll be relied on to be more of a scoring factor in games that Curry and Butler need off or canâ€t go, and called upon to do whatâ€s necessary to win on a nightly basis. Plus, the better he plays, the better his trade value is for the Warriors, possibly creating a win-win for both sides.

However it all plays out for Kuminga and the Warriors, heâ€ll have a new look to his game. At least when it comes to the front and back of his jersey.

Kuminga switched his jersey number from 00 to 1, marking a new chapter in a story that feels far from complete.

“A new start,†Kuminga explained. “I wanted to go back to my actual number that I used to wear when I was at [St. Patrick High School]. I just wanted to try new things, you know.â€

There wasnâ€t more fuel added to the fire by Kumingaâ€s first comments since re-joining the Warriors. How their relationship continues, however, can either burn the house down or be the spark he always needed to keep the flame all along.

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SAN FRANCISCO — After three months of contentious free agency negotiations, Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga signed his contract in Cleveland on Tuesday night, flew to San Francisco on Wednesday and will join the team for practice on Thursday afternoon.

The next question looming over the Warriors will be about Kuminga’s immediate buy-in to the mission at hand — elevating the Warriors back to title contention before the end of the Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler era.

Coach Steve Kerr will be in charge of guiding Kuminga back into the fold. He reiterated twice after Wednesday’s practice that he has a fine personal relationship with Kuminga and doesn’t believe the player is the type “to come in and tear a team down.”

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“Jimmy is an alpha,” Kerr said. “Steph and Draymond are alphas. They run that locker room. I’m not worried about anything.”

Kuminga spent the offseason searching for either a better contract or a sign-and-trade to a different team. He has made it clear he believes his career could flourish with more opportunities elsewhere.

But the dynamics of restricted free agency led him back to the Warriors on a two-year, $48.5 million deal that includes a team option on the second season and a 15% trade kicker. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, made it clear that Kuminga was seeking a player option.

Throughout the negotiations, both sides acknowledged the awkward fit with each other and ultimately landed on this contract structure because it is designed to be more easily moved come Jan. 15, when Kuminga will be trade eligible again.

“We feel like we have a player that can be really good,” general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “I don’t feel like there’s a need to make a move. Now, we’ll see how the season unfolds. This time last year I would have said we need to get better. I don’t feel that right now. It could change. We have a lot of guys in the team that have value around the league and could be traded, but I think the structure is more so what works for us and the player.”

Turner made many of the details of the negotiations public, including a 40-minute sit-down podcast with ESPN’s Hoop Collective that included the revelation of the transparent nature of the sign-to-trade contract.

Dunleavy said he would keep his own version of the negotiations “behind closed doors.”

“From my end, as a former player, understanding there’s a shelf life on your career, I’ve got no issues with guys doing whatever they can to get the deals they want,” Dunleavy said. “The money, the team, the role, all those things you’re looking for as a free agent. However you want to go about doing it, I have no issues. Would I do it that way? No. But I’ve got no issues. The offseason is time for business. During the season is time for basketball.”

Kerr was in contact with Kuminga during the process, checking in on the fifth-year forward.

But Kerr, a former general manager in Phoenix, sat out of the contract portion of the conversations.

“I told [Dunleavy] there was a reason I hated being a GM,” Kerr said. “Those 92 days were a great example of that. I’d much prefer being a coach and letting management handle all the contract stuff.”

But now the job falls to Kerr, who has toggled Kuminga in and out of his rotation for four seasons. Kerr said he plans to have a long conversation with Kuminga in the coming days to discuss what transpired this summer, the basketball scars of the previous four seasons and what lies ahead.

“It may not be the contract he was hoping for, but that’s life-changing money,” Kerr said. “The whole idea is to get him to get better, help him become the player he can become and sign a few more contracts. That’s what he has to focus on and I have to focus on — the getting better part. That’s been the thing that’s held him back — what we need verse what he wants to do. There’s no denying that’s been an issue.”

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Ending a summerlong stalemate, restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, agent Aaron Turner of Verus Basketball told ESPN on Tuesday.

The deal includes a team option in the second year that is designed for the Warriors — or another team if and when Kuminga is traded during the upcoming season — to rip up and complete a fresh new contract after the 2025-26 campaign, sources said.

Also Tuesday, the Warriors agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Seth Curry, sources told ESPN, teaming Stephen Curry with his younger brother as training camp begins Wednesday. However, the Warriors cannot enter the season with 15 standard players on the roster unless they make a trade, but Seth Curry is expected to be on the roster for the majority of the campaign.

Ahead of Wednesday’s qualifying offer deadline, Kuminga chose the two-year deal over a proposal of three years and $75 million so he can maintain a higher level of control over his immediate Warriors future. The Warriors never wavered on their team option frameworks during negotiations. Now, both sides understand the likelihood of exploring trades when Kuminga is eligible to be moved in mid-January. As part of the deal, he is waiving his inherent no-trade clause.

Kuminga missed media day Monday and the first day of Warriors practice Tuesday as the sides finalized the deal.

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Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kuminga’s side have been locked in a stalemate throughout the offseason over the framework of the contract, but Golden State ultimately increased its two-year offer by a total of $8 million between July and September and guaranteed Kuminga approximately $15 million more than his one-year, $8 million qualifying offer would have for this season.

Over the past two months, the Warriors have had a standing offer of two years and $45 million with a team option, and earlier this month offered a three-year, $75 million contract with a team option and a three-year, $54 million fully guaranteed deal. Kuminga and his side wanted a player option throughout the negotiations, or a higher annual salary with a team option, requests that were denied by the Warriors.

Choosing the two-year structure allows Kuminga to create a decision for whichever team he is on next summer or get to 2027 unrestricted free agency.

The Warriors made a jump to $48.5 million total over two years in the latest and last round of these drawn-out negotiations. Kuminga’s deal becomes the fourth-highest salary on the Warriors’ books next season behind Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green, escalating the team’s luxury tax penalty by $70 million to a total of over $80 million.

By signing Kuminga to a salary of $22.5 million next season, Golden State will still have the flexibility to use its $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception and sign two players to the veteran’s minimum. Gary Payton II signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract with the Warriors on Monday, and Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and rookie Will Richard have agreed to deals, too.

Jonathan Kuminga’s two-year deal with the Warriors comes with the understanding that trades will be explored when Kuminga is eligible to be moved in mid-January. Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings were the strongest suitors for Kuminga in trade talks, with the largest sign-and-trade offer coming via the Suns as a four-year, nearly $90 million deal with a player option, sources said. The Warriors never showed interest in either team’s trade proposal, however, declining concepts of Royce O’Neale and second-round picks from the Suns and Malik Monk and a protected first-round pick from the Kings.

Kuminga was largely out of the rotation in the Warriors’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets, playing just 50 minutes total across seven games, including four that he sat out due to coach’s decision. He averaged six points on 30.4% shooting against Houston. However, Kuminga shined in the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with Curry sidelined. He averaged 20.8 points on 54.3% shooting against the Timberwolves, including three straight games scoring over 20 points to end the series.

Kuminga has led the Warriors in paint points per game in each of the past two seasons as he averaged 10 points in the paint in 2023-24 and 8.5 last season, per ESPN Research — a major boost for a team that was fifth worst in paint points last season. Among players from the 2021 draft class, Kuminga ranks fifth in points per 36 minutes (minimum 150 games).

Kuminga is also one of eight players with 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds from the 2021 draft class, and he is one of five players to score 3,000 points before turning 23 in Warriors history.

Kuminga has shown an ability to raise his performance when the Warriors are missing a key cog, increasing his scoring average from 14.1 points in games Curry played to 19.6 points in 10 games without Curry, which was second on the team in this situation behind only 20 points per night from Butler, who played just three contests without Curry. Kuminga also increased his shooting percentage from 44.5% with Curry to 48.2% without him.

Kuminga becomes the third restricted free agent to find a resolution in September, after Cam Thomas signed a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer to return to the Brooklyn Nets and Josh Giddey reached a four-year, $100 million deal to stay with the Chicago Bulls. Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes remains the final outstanding restricted free agent.

In the span of 48 hours, the Warriors, who had nine standard contracts all offseason, finalized their expected 15-man roster: Kuminga, Horford, Melton, Payton, Richard and Curry.

Entering free agency this summer, only a few teams had salary cap space, which created a freeze for the restricted market. The Nets have operated as the only team with real salary cap space for the majority of the offseason.

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