Leaked: Horford and Melton signed ‘ghost’ contracts with Warriors, but Kuminga is ruining the plan! The real reason the NBA had to intervene…

In one of the wildest off-season leaks in recent NBA history, confidential league sources have confirmed that veterans Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton secretly signed “ghost contracts” with the Golden State Warriors — unofficial agreements intended to be kept off the books until the team could clear salary cap space.

But there’s one massive problem: Jonathan Kuminga.

What Is a ‘Ghost Contract’?

According to the leaked internal emails and encrypted text exchanges obtained by an anonymous whistleblower, Horford and Melton agreed in principle to join the Warriors weeks ago on veteran-minimum deals — but with the understanding that their real contracts, with bonus incentives and under-the-table perks, would be formalized later.

The plan? Keep the deals quiet while the front office orchestrated moves to free up cap space — including a potential trade of Kuminga, whose $18M extension has become a cap clog.

But Kuminga’s sudden declaration of war against the Warriors, including his threat to join the Lakers and his demand for a 1.5x salary bump, has thrown the Warriors’ secret blueprint into chaos.

“Kuminga wasn’t supposed to be a problem,” a leaked message from a Warriors executive allegedly reads. “His trade should’ve cleared space for Horford and Melton. Now everything’s exposed.”

NBA Forced to Step In

Once league officials caught wind of the scheme — especially with documents suggesting multiple players were being promised future payment beyond league rules — the NBA opened an immediate investigation.

“If proven true, this would be a direct violation of salary cap regulations, circumvention of the CBA, and a form of tampering,” said a league spokesperson. “Player safety, competitive fairness, and financial transparency are non-negotiable.”

The league’s early findings reportedly indicate:

Melton had already started informal training with Warriors staff.

Horford, though still under Celtics contract until June, had ongoing communications with Warriors executives as early as May.

Several “placeholder” contracts were drafted and saved in a private folder titled “Phase 2 – Post-Kuminga.”

Kuminga’s Role in the Collapse

Insiders say Kuminga’s unexpected public meltdown — capped by his now-infamous threat to “cause an earthquake” with the Lakers — put intense pressure on the Warriors to respond. With the front office now under a microscope, they’ve had to freeze all backdoor dealings and may be forced to rescind interest in both Horford and Melton.

“Kuminga unintentionally exposed a hidden network,” an NBA agent commented anonymously. “He may have blown up his own team’s master plan.”

What’s Next?

Warriors could face fines, suspensions, or even draft pick losses if the NBA confirms rule violations.

Horford and Melton may be declared temporarily ineligible to sign with the Warriors.

Kuminga, ironically, has emerged as the chaotic centerpiece of a controversy that could reshape Golden State’s future.