When the Golden State Warriors drafted Jonathan Kuminga in 2021, he was seen as a big part of their future. Even with the core of the team led by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green still competing for championships, there were big plans for Kuminga.
Four years later, and those plans have yet to come to fruition. Kuminga has shown flashes of the player that he can be, but he has also been inconsistent. His role has also lacked consistency, and Kuminga has grown frustrated with head coach Steve Kerr. It got to the point where Kuminga requested a trade, but the Warriors did not comply.
In the offseason, the two parties were in a contract stalemate that was not resolved until a couple weeks ago. Kuminga signed a two-year, $48 million deal that is essentially a one-year, $23 million pact. Given the short length of the deal, Kuminga’s future with Golden State has not gotten clearer.
The Warriors will trade Jonathan Kuminga the first chance they get
Golden State has said that they want Kuminga to be a part of their future, but they have not backed that up. Kuminga has also said he is done trying to figure out what his role is, to the point where he doesn’t even talk to Kerr.
Kuminga has a very tradeable contract now at the deadline, and with a $23 million salary, the Warriors could get impact pieces back for the young forward. They can match salary very easily now with Kuminga, which will make it easier to trade him.
The problem before was that Kuminga was on his rookie deal, and Golden State would have to attach more pieces to match salary. Kuminga has done everything to try and sever ties with the organization. His skill set does not fit the team, especially with the presence of Jimmy Butler now.
He’s only 23 years old with a lot of athleticism, a high motor, and emerging slashing ability. His defense remains inconsistent at times, and his jumper is still a work in progress, but in the right situation, he can flourish.
It is best that Kuminga and the Warriors move on from each other
Golden State is focused on maximizing the final years of Curry’s career. That is why they went out and got Butler. The Warriors were among the NBA’s best after Butler’s arrival and looked formidable in the playoffs until Curry’s injury against the Timberwolves.
That is all the more reason to move on from Kuminga. Kerr isn’t making the effort to fit him in, he doesn’t want to be there, and it is better to move on from a disgruntled player than to keep him.
Kuminga has said that he is focused on winning, but there is tension between him and the organization. It would be best for the team to get better pieces for the young forward so he can go to a team where he can maximize his potential.