Impact on the Nets: Suns Offer Kuminga $90M Deal; Warriors Block S&T?

The Brooklyn Nets’ negotiations with Cam Thomas may get more difficult if Golden State blocks sign-and-trade talks, despite the Suns apparently offering Jonathan Kuminga close to $90 million.
This group includes Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, and Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas. All of them are restricted free agents who are 23 years of age or younger and haven’t attracted much attention since going on sale. According to reports, all three are looking for contracts for $30 million a year, none of which are anticipated to be accepted. To aid in talks, a more tangible value might be created if the first domino is about to fall.
Kuminga, who might decide to remain in the Western Conference, is that domino. The Phoenix Suns have made Kuminga an offer that will pay him nearly what he wants, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “The most significant negotiations have been with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, getting proposals up to four years approaching $90 million total, including a player option for the final season, sources said,” Slater said on Wednesday. “Phoenix has made the most lucrative push via sign-and-trade.” Although it might not matter, this revelation could have a direct effect on Thomas’ negotiations with Brooklyn. This is the reason:
Let’s assume, for the purposes of argument, that Kuminga signs this contract with Phoenix. Whether Golden State accepts the deal or not, Kuminga will receive close to $23 million annually. Thomas can try to put an end to this crazy tale by bringing this structure to the Nets.
The removal of Kuminga from the market provides Thomas and Giddey with a starting point for their negotiations. That might not even have any effect on Brooklyn, though. The Nets retain all of their influence even if Kuminga signs a lucrative new contract. They still have the most money to give Thomas, and the 23-year-old is effectively trapped by their right to match whatever offer sheet he accepts.
Theoretically, signing one of the three players would allow for a more thorough assessment of the other two, but Thomas’ circumstance is distinct. If he wants to stay in Brooklyn for the long run, Kuminga’s potential contract might not have much of an effect on his negotiations with the Nets, but he might have a clearer sense of what he could fetch as an unrestricted free agent next summer.