Cam Thomas Contract Means Warriors Could Be in Big Trouble With Kuminga

A fairly large domino in the NBA free agency landscape has fallen. Cam Thomas has decided to sign the qualifying offer with the Brooklyn Nets. This $6 million contract is a huge risk for Thomas, as he is betting on himself to have a big year so he can enter unrestricted free agency and get a big payday next year.

This Cam Thomas contract could send ripples through the NBA free agency market. Both Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey are the two best remaining NBA free agents and don’t yet have contracts for next season. 

For the Warriors, this has meant their entire offseason has been stalled. There still is no resolution in the Jonathan Kuminga contract negotiations, and the end doesn’t seem to be near. Kuminga doesn’t want to play for the Warriors and reportedly is heavily considering taking the qualifying offer. 

That’s why this Cam Thomas contract could be bad news for the Warriors. Kuminga following suit and signing the qualifying offer would be the worst-case scenario for the Warriors. Not only would they almost certainly lose Kuminga for nothing in free agency next season, but they’d also have him stuck on the roster for the rest of the season. 

In that scenario, Kuminga would constantly be trying to prove himself so he could grab a giant payday. The Warriors already have trouble with him sacrificing for the good of the team.

On the other hand, Thomas being an unrestricted free agent next offseason means that one more player will be competing for the available money next summer. Maybe this pushes Kuminga to take the guaranteed money on the Warriors' current offer. 

Whatever ends up happening, Warriors fans are hoping that this Cam Thomas signing at least starts the process of something happening with Kuminga.