Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob has finally opened up about the tense contract standoff with Jonathan Kuminga that consumed much of the teams offseason, and he didnt hold back.
People have to use whatever they can in a negotiation and so they do, Lacob said, speaking on The TK Show.Its like social media; you have to have a thick skin to deal with all this stuff. I was annoyed that it didnt happen faster. I think it could have, and maybe should have. But look, its the way these things go.
After months of speculation and tension, the Warriors and Kuminga agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million deal that includes a team option for the 202728 season a structure that gives Golden State future flexibility while locking in one of their most promising young players.
It went on a long time longer than we would have liked but it got done kind of how we thought it would, Lacob said. Im moving on. It was what it was, but at the end of the day, we got the team we wanted for this year, and were happy.
Despite frustrations, Lacob made it clear hes still all-in on Kumingas potential.
I like him as a person and as a player, he said. Obviously, it hasnt fit entirely perfectly at times with what Steve [Kerr] maybe wanted or wants, but at times it has worked well. We just have to let it play out. Its time for basketball now. What happens on the floor is what matters.
Lacob credited general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for handling the back-and-forth with Kumingas camp, led by agent Aaron Turner, who publicly pressured the team for a deal.
It was his negotiation, Lacob said. I know everyone likes to think Im out here controlling every little detail, but Im not. Its his job, and he played it his way. Bottom line, he got to the end result that he felt we would get to.
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