Jonathan Kuminga Reportedly 'Continuing to Decline' Warriors' $45M Contract Offer

Restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga turned down an improved offer from the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.

Charania and Slater reported Wednesday that Kuminga "is continuing to decline their two-year, $45 million contract offer."

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday the Warriors' were believed to be willing to go up to around $40 million on a two-year deal.

Charania and Slater reported Kuminga is balking at the Warriors' desire to make the second year a team option.

"This continued stalemate is largely about control, and the option dispute is at the crux of it," per ESPN. "Kuminga believes accepting the Warriors' two-year offer with a team option, along with forfeiting trade veto rights, cedes too much control to a franchise he believes has stunted and strung his career along for four seasons, sources said."

Kuminga's RFA status is probably the biggest thing keeping him unsigned.

The Warriors can match any offer sheet he signs with another team, so a sign-and-trade is likely required for an interested suitor to land the 22-year-old. The problem there, per Charania and Slater, is that Golden State hasn't been convinced by the trade packages it has received from the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

The ball is firmly in the Warriors' court and they're apparently willing to exercise all of their leverage. According to the ESPN report, they could end sign-and-trade discussions entirely with the knowledge Kuminga has to either take their best offer or sign a one-year qualifying offer.

Granted, this could be a bluff by Golden State.

Having an openly disgruntled Kuminga on the roster figures to be a distraction all season, one the coaching staff would probably prefer to avoid. Re-signing a player who wants to be elsewhere typically doesn't work out well.

However this saga ends, a resolution still seems to be a ways off based on the recent reporting.