The Warriors haven’t been effective with Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga on the court together, but their athletic potential is so tantalizing that coach Steve Kerr tried the combination again Sunday night, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Kerr employed his 13th different starting lineup of the season, using Wiggins and Kuminga as the forwards, but the results were disappointing again as Toronto jumped to an early 24-12 lead that Golden State was never able to overcome.
“We’ve talked about trying to get (Wiggins and Kuminga) together,” Kerr said. “Theoretically our two longest, most athletic players. We have not been a good defensive team this year, so we wanted to try it. It hasn’t connected, really. But we’re experimenting. We’re trying to find a two-way lineup that can help us. But obviously that lineup didn’t click.”
Kerr pulled the plug on the experiment by intermission, as the Raptors scored 76 first-half points and held a 27-point lead. He replaced Wiggins, Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis with Brandin Podziemski, Dario Saric and Kevon Looney to start the third quarter.
“I didn’t want to go back to the same lineup,” Kerr said. “The only thing I was interested in in the second half was just competing. What that means — you can say compete, but what does that mean? It means talking on defense. I didn’t hear anything. It was silent in the first half. We needed to have some talk, some chatter. So I went with that lineup because I felt they would give us that.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Kerr will have to juggle his rotation even more when Draymond Green returns, Slater adds. Green, whose suspension was lifted Saturday after 12 games, was in the arena with his teammates Sunday night. Green is expected to miss at least one more game while working on his conditioning, according to Slater, but he should be back on the court by the end of the week.
- With the trade deadline now just a month away, the front office is facing a crucial decision on Kuminga, who likely has the highest value of any of the Warriors’ available players, notes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga’s athleticism makes him an intriguing prospect for rival teams, and he’s only 21 with another year remaining on his rookie contract. There are no signs that management will consider breaking up the long-standing trio of Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Poole adds.
- The NFL’s Washington Commanders have hired former Warriors general manager Bob Myers as part of their search team for a new head of football operations and head coach, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Adam Schefter of ESPN. Myers, who left Golden State when his contract expired last summer, will be part of an advisory committee that also includes former NBA star Magic Johnson. Myers will continue his studio work with ESPN on NBA games.
They’re going to have to shake this up at the trade deadline. This is not working the way it is, basically a .500 team who might get the play-in game.
In the playoffs you just concentrate your defense on Curry and know the others can’t beat you. Good night irene.
Not sure who you have to move but a minor tweak won’t get it done. Could be Thompson could be Chris Paul could be Wiggins. But also could be Moody and Kuminga.
Thompson has been playing better recently. CP’s expiring is an asset but IMO unless they can get a decent 7 footer they might as well keep the existing roster and limit the vets’ minutes, since anything less won’t help “get it done”.
There is nobody out there to save the warriors. The dynasty has fallen and there’s no bringing it back. They have no assets besides JK, and are too old to do anything substantial on the floor.
Even curry looks bad lately. Lmao it’s so sweet to watch that clown show franchise go down like this
You must be a Wizards fan. How is that Poole trade working out for you?
Clown franchise? Have you been living under a rock the last 10 years? My goodness people are so loose with these adjectives.
Can’t be a real statement it must stem from jealousy. But that’s okay it’s Human Nature. Perhaps my post shows homerism but I don’t think so?
I’m not sure of any other reason besides the jealousy factor here. Okay good luck to your Lakers Clippers Celtics or any other team that hasn’t won this decade (or in some cases, last decade neither.)
“There’s nobody out there to save the warriors?” So even guys on your favorite team are not good enough to help? Okay good to know.
Dubs need a trade asap. Can’t believe Steph was cold as ice from 3 again in less than 3 months. RJ sent the miserable haters back to that lock box cabinet. Wiggins looked uninterested. Hope he gets back to allstar form man, he’s got too much talent not to bounce back.
trade Paul, Kuminga, couple 2nds for Capela, Clarkson, Olynyk.
yeah,, ask landary fields and dnny ainge how they divide the spoils
There is something wrong with Curry. He has been missing wide open 3s. Other teams are focusing on him defensively and making him look lost out there. The team looked unmotivated last night. Warriors should just use this season as a rebuild and play their younger players and maybe trade some of their Vets.
He’s going to be 36 years old in 2 months. He needs his annual 3 weeks off to rest and come back strong.
Plus the reality is he has to carry this team. He draws the best defender every game and his teammates aren’t helping.
Wiggins should be traded because if you can’t motivate yourself at this point when the squad needs you, you’ve got to go. Even Klay has bounced back some from his horrible play to start the year.
The raptors were making Curry look bad out there by putting larger players on hi to defend. At that point Kerr should have taken Curry out instead of being stubborn as usual. Wiggins was just plain awful which might be him doing it on purpose because he doesn’t want to be traded. There was no urgency in the team going after 50/50 balls.
Wiggins is a total disaster. What the heck happened from 2 yrs ago??! He’s totally lost on the floor and nothing but just a role player.
It’s a mess and it all started by being wishy washy with all of our draft assets few yrs back and having 2 timelines. We blew it and now, Warriors most likely will be screwed whatever they decide to do. There’s only 1 way to get out of this and it is TOTAL Rebuild. The longer they wait, the longer the pain. We need to start gathering young assets now and develop young talent. It’s unfortunate but it is the only way out.
I am for just playing out the season and not making any trades. Start playing Moody and Kuminga more to see what they have. I just don’t see any trade helping them become a top team. Losing Chris Paul and Thompson next year will get them a lot of money freed up. Flipping Wiggins to a team for young players or a draft picks could be a option.
I sort of agree with you but if you dont make any trades, kuminga and Moody will not be able to play. Soon GP2, Dray, and CP3 will be healthy. I wouldnt be surprised if Kuminga and Moody confidentially request trades because they cant afford to wait til next yr. They are going to want extension.
If they play well Kerr will have nothing but the option of playing them. Green will cut into TJD playing time.
True but they both are afraid to make mistakes which defeats the whole purpose. Instead of playing thru mistakes, they have been mentally beaten up. There were several open shots Kuminga should have taken last night but he’s always looking over his shoulder and thinking too much. It’s too bad.
If Warriors are aftaid to make big changes at the deadline, they can still trade marginal players like GP2, Saric. They are very good players but not for a non contender and should not be prioritized over young players.
I have a feeling Kerr is going to retire after this season. He didn’t want to sign a extension and looks tired on the sideline. If he sees no future my best guess is he retires. Too many of the warrior players try to hard getting Curry the ball instead of hitting a good shot.
Yes ARC, you could be right. He’ll be like Phil Jackson and be available to a team that’s already good but needs to get over the top.
Remember Phil Jackson did that when he resigned from the Bulls and then took the Lakers to three straight.
I agree with arc
Sometimes the best move is no move
Hope my Lakers are listening as I feel the exact same way as of today – Things can change over the next month but the internal parts of the orgs have to show a trade is warranted and there is hope for a long playoff run
Yes true rain delay. Everyone wants a trade and I guess that’s what I’m saying, but perhaps in the Lakers case, you need to let the guys figure it out and become whole over time.
Give them a chance to play together learn together rely on each other and learn tendencies. As some GMS have said in the past you don’t make a trade just to make a trade.
Oddly Gary I feel the Lakers and GSW are in very similar boats currently
I know a lotta the GSW fans here despise the Lakers but I see many similarities
* I have a lot more faiith in the GSW front office tho than my own In making the right moves or non moves
Yes you’re right. Two veteran squads trying to be a little more than just a .500 team.
Seriously, I think the Lakers have been outstanding with their transactions lately. The guys they picked up the last year or year and a half have been great pickups. Considering the salary cap and the restrictions based on that, PLUS the Lakers have traded away a lot of first round picks.
I think Rob Pelinka has done an amazing job building this roster. Is it a perfect roster? No but with the tools he had he’s done a great job in my opinion.
…you realize they won a title during that time frame? Lot of teams didn’t.
Warriors need another star badly there a Siakam a way for at least contending come on Dunleavy get it done.
Sakiam is a free agent at the end of the season so why gamble that he will resign. Even if he resigns where does Thompson go? Raptors want a huge pay day for him so its not worth a gamble to throw all their young players for a guy who might not be here next year.
Yeah agreed the price would be very high but he should want to resign. I’m pretty sure if the warriors would trad for him they would have an agreement in place. They can still get Klay back and stay under the apron which is mainly there goal.
I was more impressed with Barret than Siakam last night. I just don’t see him the answer for the warriors problem. Warriors problem all year been defense.
Siakam and Thompson play different positions. Thompson will need to take a massive haircut if he wants to remain a warrior after this season, the offer of 2/48 seems generous at this point now, although i wouldn’t surmise they’d take it off the table.
You mean Anthony Black, Elfrid Payton, Coby White and Jalen Green need a haircut. They need to trade Paul for a center. Vucevic would be the best option. Grant and Siakam are 6’9 PFs and they don’t need that.
Dubs need to consider what they’re going to do, all in with Steph to try and win a 5th? Then that means trading all assets (Kuminga, CP3 expiring, Wiggs) for anyone of impact. They need someone who can score 20+ on a given night because Klay ain’t that dude anymore and Steph is getting mauled.
Siakam, J. Grant
Chris Paul and Santos with picks for Vucevic and Alex Curuso. Chris Paul and Santos for Jonas Val, Lewis and Larry Nance picks included? Trade Santos, Cash with picks for Drummond
Warriors already traded away 2 first round picks. They also traded away a lot of their second round picks. So if they make a trade its without giving up picks.
I appreciate you letting me know
Chicago trades Vucevic and Carter for Chris Paul and Santos. This is the trade that needs to happen everyone
The warriors have hit a wall unfortunately. Curry and Wiggins simultaneously struggling in a game rarely ends well.
Crazy how wiggins lost his way the last two years. Maybe the case is really that he’s been mediocre for 6 years and had one good year LOL.., maybe a year and a half of good ball.
A take hot enough to match your cute lil icon lol
Wiggins needs to be moved. Can’t bank on him reverting to previous form. Somethings off, need to pull the trigger while you can.