Sources: Dubs tender qualifying offer to Kuminga

The Golden State Warriors have tendered Jonathan Kuminga a $7.9 million qualifying offer that will make the forward a restricted free agent as expected, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

Kuminga, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, is a major priority for the Warriors entering free agency, which begins Monday. The Brooklyn Nets are the only team that can offer Kuminga a starting salary of $20 million or more, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. The Warriors have the right to match any offer and can explore sign-and-trade options.

Kuminga's future affects what the Warriors do in free agency and how they can surround Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green with more help. The Warriors need a center, more shooting, defense and playmaking.

Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game season. He played in 47 regular-season games, missing 31 straight contests at one point in the season with a severe ankle injury.

The Warriors traded for Butler during that absence and were a much different team when Kuminga returned to the court. He fell out of coach Steve Kerr's rotation at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs until injuries to Butler and Curry in the postseason opened playing time for him. Kuminga, the Warriors' most athletically explosive player, averaged 24.2 points with Curry out for the final four games of Golden State's second-round loss to Minnesota.

"I think we're in a good spot with it, honestly," Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. told reporters of Kuminga at his predraft availability Monday. "... I'd like to figure something out sooner than later. That would be great. But I also acknowledge with restricted free agency these things can drag out a little bit and take some time. I think we feel pretty comfortable with who JK is as a player and what he can do for our organization, and it's a main priority going into free agency."

Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, two key role players for the Warriors, are also free agents. Dunleavy said the Warriors will be "in the mix" in the trade market in search of opportunities to improve the roster.

"We've got some free agents that are priorities," Dunleavy said. "We've got to handle that. But some of that stuff may lead into trades and other things.

"... I think with our cap and strategy group, those guys are really good. It's hard to say, though, now honestly as far as what's out there and what could happen [in the trade market]. But we'll definitely be in the mix. I think we've shown a history of doing that."