How many of you wake up thinking there will be some progress made on the Golden State Warriors – Jonathan Kuminga standstill? For a fact, this back and forth is causing delays. Recently, Mike Dunleavy put out another offer. This time, a three-year, $75.2 million deal, which was promptly rejected by JK! The proposed deal would have a team option coming in the third season, so that’s $48.3 million guaranteed in the first two years. But the 22-year-old doesn’t want a deal with a team option. However, as this drama plays out, it’s quite unfortunate that one of Stephen Curry’s family members is getting affected…

As ESPN laid out the Warriors’ offseason plans, one thing became certain.

“The Warriors have planned to at least use their taxpayer midlevel — Al Horford is the target — and have had strong discussions with veterans De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II and Seth Curry, sources said. It’s why Curry, Butler and Green are not agitating behind the scenes. They know the strategy, sources said, and have approved that anticipated result.”

But so far, what everyone lacks is clarity. The ‘Kuminga domino’ has to fall in order for the Warriors to proceed with other targets, simply because JK’s first-season salary per the revised deal is a crucial point of the negotiation. A $22.5 million first-year salary for Kuminga is the most the Bay Area side can offer. Signing the likes of Horford, Curry, and Melton also hard caps the Warriors at the second apron.

While they want Kuminga to accept a team option, the player feels the price is too low… Amidst the ongoing saga, the Warriors’ free agent targets may be growing impatient. All they have to do is sign their deal and have a guaranteed NBA job. But Seth Curry and the others can’t do so until the Warriors know how much money they have to work with. Their offseason additions are priorities. But they also don’t want to lose JK for nothing next summer.

Luckily, Seth Curry won’t have to wait for that long anymore. By October 1, if there is no resolution, Kuminga will sign his $7.9 million player option. It will help the Warriors remain under the first apron and save nearly $70 million in luxury tax money, according to ESPN. But there is a catch.

Will Jonathan Kuminga be willing to help the Warriors?

You might be wondering – Kuminga accepting a qualifying offer almost certainly means he will leave for free. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Joe Lacob and Co. will have the youngster on board on a cheaper wage for a season (maintaining Bird Rights), also opening a crooked door for a long-term deal. Or perhaps a valuable sign-and-trade. Déjà vu?

The Warriors have been in this situation before with a name the fanbase probably wished had stayed forever. Klay Thompson’s move to the Dallas Mavericks came as part of a sign-and-trade. The six-team trade gave the Warriors Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield. Given the latter is still a vital part of the team, it’s clear why the Bay would desperately want this in what could be Stephen Curry’s final chase for a championship.

However, that sign-and-trade deal happened because Thompson held admiration for the franchise that treated him well. Kuminga doesn’t hold any of those obligations. ESPN also reports that his taking the qualifying offer would be equivalent to “an organizational burning of the long-term relationship.”

“They would anticipate a clean split next summer, sources said, without motivation to let the Warriors recoup value unless necessary to get Kuminga where he would want to go,” per ESPN.

The only way the Bay Area side gets its way is if a sign-and-trade materializes. And the only way that happens is if JK gets to join a franchise he actually wishes to. Next year, though, a lot of the teams will have the cap to make big signings. The Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are two recurring names popping up. Do you think the Warriors will get anything in return if they let Kuminga take the qualifying offer? Let us know your views in the comments below.