The Golden State Warriors couldn’t finalize a contract extension with promising forward Jonathan Kuminga before the October 21 NBA deadline, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Kuminga is one of two players eligible for an extension this season, with guard Moses Moody successfully signing a three-year, $39 million deal earlier this week.
Read more: Warriors Sign Rising Star to Long-Term Extension
Both Kuminga and Moody were first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. Kuminga was selected seventh overall after playing for the G League Ignite, a team designed to help elite talents bypass college basketball. The Ignite was recently disbanded due to the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.
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Moody, who stands at 6-foot-5 and hails from Arkansas, was picked 14th overall. During their rookie seasons, both players played limited but valuable roles on the Warriors squad that clinched the championship against the Boston Celtics in 2022.
At just 22 years old, Kuminga and Moody are expected to develop into key contributors for the Warriors. While they haven’t reached star status yet, Kuminga’s scoring ability has shown promise for the current season. He averaged a career-best 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.7 steals over 74 games last year, demonstrating his growing potential.
Though Kuminga reportedly sought a max extension, Golden State couldn’t come to terms, suggesting they may not see him as worth that investment just yet.
Read more: Warriors Star Looking For Full Max Extension
Fortunately for the Warriors, Kuminga will enter restricted free agency in the summer, giving the team a chance to match any offers he receives.
According to Slater, Kuminga is set to start in the Warriors’ season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 23.
Last season, the Warriors struggled, finishing as the No. 10 seed in the West and were eliminated in the play-in tournament by the Sacramento Kings. This summer, the team bid farewell to longtime All-Star Klay Thompson, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, and they brought in younger options like De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Anderson to fill the gap.