To be honest, maybe the Golden State Warriors don’t need Jonathan Kuminga. Not now that they have Jimmy Butler to play the role of sidekick and savior. Nevertheless, with the young forward receiving a DNP-Coach’s Decision in his team’s victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, it’s clear as day that this is a partnership that needs to end.
It’s Time For Warriors To Let Jonathan Kuminga Go His Own Way
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation decisions have long been a point of discussion.
Last summer, the conversation revolved around his decision to keep Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum glued to the bench during the Paris Olympics. Tatum, who had just won a ring, didn’t have an icy response to Kerr’s cold shoulder. However, it did put a glacier-sized chip on his.
Last season, fans were questioning his reluctance to play not only Kuminga but Moses Moody, especially with Klay Thompson seemingly experiencing a physical decline. The peanut gallery only got louder when Kerr relented and the Warriors began to turn their season around. Though Moody didn’t get to play consistently, Kuminga was promoted to the starting lineup, the team going 27-19 with his in the first unit. As they were just 9-13 prior to that point, the difference was definitely notable.
In the games that Kuminga started, he averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. His team defense, heads-up playmaking, and 3-point shooting all needed work. Nevertheless, the pressure that he put on the rim and his physical tools allowed him to be a difference-maker on both ends. So much so that the team’s established stars, including Thompson, considered him to be key to their future.
Kerr must not have been that convinced.
Poor Fit Or Lazy Coaching?
This season, Kuminga started just three games before Dr. Zimbardo gave up the experiment, citing concerns with spacing. Again, this is despite the success that they had with him starting in 2023-24. It’s despite him having plenty of time to find a way to not only accommodate Kuminga’s skillset but blend it with that of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
The worst part is that it’s not that Kerr failed to make it work as much as he didn’t really try, and therein lies the real problem. He’s not a developmental coach. By the time he was hired, Curry had already played five seasons and been named an All-Star. Thompson was already considered one of the most prolific shooters in the NBA. Last but not least, Green had emerged as a starter.
Kerr might have had a hand in their development but what he really did was revolutionize their play style. As that relates to Kuminga, it’s worth noting that the only young players he’s really interested in are ones where he doesn’t have to think hard about their fit within the system he’s known for.
Chess Not Checkers
Moody, who now starts for the Warriors, isn’t as elite as Thompson when it comes to 3-point shooting but he’s another 3-and-D wing. Quinten Post, who was the 52nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, plays a simple stretch-five role. Brandin Podziemski, an on-again off-again starter, is a secondary ball-handler and playmaker who plays commendable defense. Furthermore, 49.1 percent of his shots have come from 3-point range.
Then there’s Kuminga, who has only taken a quarter (25.6 percent) of his career attempts from beyond the arc. Nonetheless, this is a player that his franchise used a top-10 pick on. He’s one that was at the center of last season’s turnaround. That’s not a player you’re supposed to be dismissive of, as Kerr has so often been.
The Nets Question
Kerr’s flippant attitude might just come off as stubbornness, but it’s just as likely the main reason Kuminga will sign an offer sheet with some other team this offseason. So far, the Brooklyn Nets appear to be Kuminga’s most likely suitor. For Kuminga’s sake, the Warriors will just let him leave, only matching the offer sheet for a sign-and-trade.
Ironically, burned by multiple blockbuster trades, Brooklyn’s finally decided to build their roster in a more organic way. Thus, they’re considered a rebuilding team. Because of the reality that they won’t be in the playoffs in the immediate future, they’re now one of the better destinations for a young player.
At 22 years old, Kuminga fits the bill. In fact, if they’re able to secure Kuminga, their frontcourt could be set for years.
Cam Johnson, a 29-year-old 3-and-D forward, complements Kuminga quite well. Nic Claxton, their 26-year-old franchise cornerstone, is one of the best defenders in the league.
Between Kuminga and 23-year-old Cam Thomas, who they want to bring back, they might even have their top two scoring options. With that being said, if they get a franchise point guard in the 2025 NBA Draft, that’s an entire starting lineup that can grow together. To that point, the Nets have shown a lot of interest in Rutgers star Dylan Harper.
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