Jonathan Kuminga‘s role in the playoffs will be closely watched around the league as he heads into restricted free agency, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report (Substack link).
Kuminga never entered the game in the Warriors‘ play-in victory over Memphis on Tuesday. It’s expected that Kuminga will have at least a limited role in the first-round series against the Rockets as Golden State tries to combat Houston’s athleticism.
Coach Steve Kerr has stated publicly that the combination of Kuminga and Jimmy Butler at the forward spots hasn’t worked well due to spacing issues — both are subpar three-point shooters. The coaching staff had hoped that Kuminga might be further along in developing his play-making skills.
The front office and Kuminga couldn’t meet his asking price during rookie scale extension talks. He was seeking more than $30MM annually. The Nets are a potential suitor with enough cap space to give Kuminga a lucrative contract, but a sign-and-trade with another team could be a potential option this summer.
Here’s more from the latest Stein Line round-up from Stein and Fischer:
- The Suns are unlikely to pursue another veteran coach after Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer lasted just one season apiece. However, Pelicans coach Willie Green is a potential candidate if new New Orleans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars doesn’t retain Green. Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey and Mavericks assistants Jared Dudley and Sean Sweeney could also be in the mix, Stein and Fischer confirm. Those names were all previously reported.
- It’s not a certainty Suns top executive James Jones will hold onto his job. Owner Mat Ishbia could make a change in the front office before a new head coach is hired, Stein and Fischer note.
- Dumars will take his time before deciding whether he’ll look to shop oft-injured franchise player Zion Williamson. There’s some skepticism around the NBA that the Pelicans will continue to ride with Williamson as their cornerstone piece.
- The Pelicans‘ decision to hire Dumars a day after David Griffin was let go and the Kings’ same-day hiring of Scott Perry to replace Monte McNair have both faced scrutiny around the league, with sources wondering why the teams didn’t conduct more thorough searches, Stein and Fischer say. Dumars was also said to be high on Sacramento’s list.
- Dirk Nowitzki has an office at the Mavericks‘ practice facility but he’s rarely there, which speaks to his distance from the Mavericks current ownership group and general manager Nico Harrison. Nowitzki was named a special advisor to former majority owner Mark Cuban, who no longer has much say in personnel decisions, including the blockbuster Luka Doncic deal.
-Suns owner wants even more control? Wow, Yes men need only apply.
-Definitely trade Zion, good luck with that.
-Kuminga is definitely expendable, sign and trade.
-Dirk wants nothing to do with Dallas.
Sign and trade Kuminga, Moody, Buddy and picks for Giannis
They would be lucky to get a flabby and sick Dwight Howard for that package.
You dont know ball
lol i have to believe this is a 2pac reference
Give it up he is not coming to the warriors
It’s always funny to see this sort of weird trade proposal get posted – as if the other team wouldn’t just say no.
It’s pretty clear that Kerr is unlikely to play Kuminga, regardless of the talking heads’ “expectations”.
Davey been claiming for 3 years Giannis is coming to the warriors. There are some players on teams that will not get traded. Just like people claiming Grizzlies will trade Morant.
He also thinks GS would trade Butler for KD.
Hilarious!
Suns owner would do it but why would the warriors with Butler fitting the system so well? Suns GM should go for young players and draft picks.
No kidding. Butler’s playmaking and defense are far more valuable. And it will be interesting to see if (despite Kerr’s ultrashort rotation) we win this series if the Rockets will trade for KD (as many have predicted).
If Rockets lose they will be making a trade for a offensive playmaker. Their problem all year has been not enough offense and none of their players are all star offensive players.
KD’s not a playmaker and he doesn’t fit their timeline. But with their lack of shooting he would definitely make them better.
They should have traded for Fox. They need a better PG. Fox would open up the the offense.
Care to provide the link to amazon for the crystal ball you are using? Mine is saying GSW has the chips for Giannis.
Take off the rose color glasses Davey. The warriors could easily be out bidded for Giannis by a few teams.
hypothetically, yeah. But in real life? We do not know the future. But the signs of Giannis wanting out are there, and GSW has a stack of draft picks and young stars who GSW can sign and trade.
Who are these young players Warriors can sign and trade??
Literally everyone under 25?
The “sign and trade” part isn’t the point, arc, its this “GSW has a stack of draft picks and young stars” avail in a deal for Giannis.
Also, Jimmy might be flipped if Giannis or KD is en route.
SMH its not happening so give it up. Oter teams have higher potential young players than the warriors have. I can name many other teams that have better drfat picks than the warriors. There is no upgrade flipping Butler for KD because Butler plays better defense than KD and can pass better. You living in the past man let it go…
Name those teams then, I don’t see Milwaukee sending Giannis somewhere he doesn’t want to go, and Steph and Giannis are besties off the court…the embers are there arc, you gotta admit there’s something there. Might not happen, but to rule it out is also stupid.
People said these exact same types of things about GSW “never” getting KD.
Steph and Giannis are not besties. If Bucks trade Giannis they are doing a complete rebuild so Rockets, OKC, Utah, spurs, blazers, and half the league is out bidding the warriors with better draft picks. Nico is on the Mavs that is the only GM to fool.
“Steph and Giannis are not besties.” – why lie? This is untrue. They are really good friends off the court. Lying? Why? Your reply reeks of coping – you have no real point here aside from “I just don’t want it to happen”.
I have never read they are BFF and never heard him say he wants to play in GS. More like wishful thinking by you.
More like 100% pure ignorance from you. They literally invest in companies together. Google Giannis and Steph Curry – again I ask, why just make up lies about this? Giannis and Steph are great friends off the court. Google next time please
I didn’t lie you lied. Now I know why poeople don’t like you if somebody doesn’t have the same opinion as you then attack them. That is a control issue you have.
How did I lie? How is this attacking? I am confused.
You lied.
You said Giannis and Steph are not friends off the court, when a simple googling proves you wrong in 100 different ways. This is NOT an opinion. You are lying. Steph and Giannis are great friends off the court – that’s why I think GSW will make a play for Giannis in the first place!
Show me where I lied.
You lied when you said Steph and Giannis are not friends. That is a lie.
They are not great friends off the court.They know each other. You need to learn what is a click bait article and what is the truth. Giannis has never said he wants to play next to Curry. so here is the bet if Giannis is not on the warriors next year you never poist here again. if he is I will never post here again. Do we have a deal?
No, because then that’s 1 less Warriors fan on here.
You are wrong, I am right. They ARE friends. You are refusing to believe truths just to defend your position that GSW “cannot” get Giannis. You probably had this exact same attitude about GSW getting KD. Just google it, you are looking insane right now. But if you didn’t think GSW could get KD – shame on you for not learning from your mistakes.
Also, Giannis has never said he wanted to play next to anyone, Curry included. That’s a moot hill you are dying on.
SMH i don’t have your back anymore because you proven why people get tired of you. You make claims and get mad when people prove you wrong.
“Prove you wrong” again, WHERE IS YOUR PROOF? SHOW ME! You, like all these clowns I destroy on arguments on here NEVER actually provide any proof! Its ALWAYS “you are wrong because I said so. Source: I made it up”, and that’s your “proof”! Every damn time! At least give links or stats that can be verified! You are lying like crazy for no reason now, its really weird and out of the ordinary for you. Are you drunk? This is gaslighting only dumb trolls participate in, sad to see you fall off and crash out like this.
Here is MY proof:
link to essentiallysports.com
“However, Steph Curry isn’t the first hooper to join the revolution. He’s now alongside his rival on the court and GOOD FRIEND, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. ”
link to google.com
link to google.com
link to warriorswire.usatoday.com
Until you provide links proving Steph and Giannis are NOT good friends, you are wrong and lying to try and make your horribly stupid point that isn’t based in fact.
Also, as a Warriors fan, why are you against this? Giannis is better than Jimmy. You should be all about getting Giannis here if you really were a real GSW fan. Maybe you are a Kings fan now? One thing is for sure, now I know it makes you mad, I am going to ramp up commenting about the future Warrior Giannis, as much as I can within the realm of the post title! You bought this on yourself…
You are disillusioned Curry gave JJ Redick signed shoes but that doesn’t make them best friends Shaq said Curry is one of the greatest so I guess they are BFF too. Davey you need help in your dream world.
Yeah, my “dream world” that exists by googling real, actual accounts online SMH.
Steph and Giannis have stated they are friends. This is fact. You are lying when you say they are not IRL friends. Weirdo move. I have zero clue why you DONT want Giannis on GSW. Just a weirdo take overall.
It feels like people know I exist and then just decide to take it out on me when they are having a bad day or something, just lying and making up 100% false takes that you cant verify, because you pulled them out of thin air.
I linked facts here, based in the real world, and every time I ask you to respond in kind, you just “I made it up”d. Then you claim I am living in a dream world? Grow up.
Hahaha Hahaha. Yep, make it happen.
You remind me of this one guy who ranted and raved that the Christian Wood Rockets were going to destroy the Warriors. It didn’t happen. Christian Wood is out of basketball. And, we never heard from him again. Since this is not a fan site, I bet you disappear soon.
OK, cool. How much?
You go on a Warriors fan site and detail why they won’t make the playoffs this year.
Lmfao why? So you and your other delusional keyboard warrior friends can say hurtful things? Nooooo. Get out of here Aristotle jr with your creep vibes. I’m allowed to think your team cant win. Grow up. So, how much?
What hurtful things? What are you afraid of? What am I saying is delusional? You have already been proven wrong about the Warriors. Why not admit it?
Kuminga picked the wrong season to have a shooting slump and miss a month due to injury. I bet he really regrets not signing that $30 million contract.
I doubt he is going anywhere. The Nets GM said they are only going to spend money on polished players. How many teams are going to do a sign & trade on promise? Probably not at a price JK wants. He needs to work on his 3 point shooting and free throw shooting.
If warriors lose in the playoffs maybe take a big gamble with Kuminga in a s/t with Heild for Zion. Pelicans are tired of Zion so both teams take a gamble on under performing players.
Anything is possible…I guess…
Why do you think GSW would want a guy making just 23% from three who misses a bunch of games every year?
He’s got 3 years left on his deal avging about $42 mil/yr, and hasn’t done anything to help the Pelicans do anything but tank.
Its warriors one chance to get a real center. They wouldn’t need him to shot 3s just rebound and be a defnse force to block shots.
Except Zion doesn’t play center. He’s a 6’6″ power forward.
What is a “real” Center? Nothing is wrong with Looney’s rebounding and shot blocking. His problem is shooting. He couldn’t hit the side of a barn from 3 feet away.
Why would Nets sign Kuminga. They have (4) #1 picks in first rd this year. The only player Nets could sign is Giddey. A young PG still getting better. People throw around 30 mill a year. Like its a given. Potential is based on who signs you. How bad they want you. Don’t mean you are worth it. Young players today. Haven’t even learned to win yet. And by 22-23 they think they are worth 30 plus mill five yrs. I really like Jalen Green. But he got three yrs 105 mill. Three yrs is what it should be for these pay me now players. Giddey nor Kuminga is worth 30 mill. Not yet anyway.
I’d pay $30 mill for Giddey and it would be a steal, however I’m not sure Kuminga’s worth $10 mill.
Less than $10 for Kuminga? Have you ever seen him play. It sounds like you haven’t.
I’ll have to admit that because he can’t crack the rotation when his team needs him the most it’s been a couple weeks but yes I’ve seen Kuminga play.
I’ll admit it’s been a couple weeks since the last time I’ve seen Kuminga play, of course it’d be easier to do so if he actually played.
$30 million was how much the Warriors offered him.
Yep and they dodged a bullet.
Hard to see who they would want in a sign and trade anyway.
Chicago could offer Vuce?
Miami could do not so Scary Terry?
Portland, Jerami Grant?
CJ from New Orleans?
Hard to gauge value and think of what they’d want in return….
A drunk bottle, towel, mascot, cheerleaders. Pull the trigger.
Difficult task indeed
My best guess is something like Harrison Barnes + some expiring filler from Branham/Champangie, / Wesley group and maybe 2 2 nd rd picks
Suns getting a young coach with this group. Seen this before with Darvin Ham in LA.
It’s looking like Kerr thinks he can play Steph and Jimmy 42+ minutes and they’ll keep being able to play as well as they did yesterday, while no one else on the team can shoot 50% and they can’t even rebound missed 2nd free throw attempts.
Clearly talking heads’ “expectations” the Kuminga will play this series are unfounded in reality – even with Post and Looney only getting 2 rebs combined in 21 minutes, he probably won’t even give TJD any time (never mind JK) until they’re down 3-1 in the series.
Umm…They only played one game. Are you seriously going to predict how the rest of series is going to go. Sometimes players have bad games. Post and TJD are in their 1st playoff series. It is difficult to play JK
and Butler on the floor together. Who would you rather have on the floor? Who are these “talking heads”?
JK averaged 21.7 ppg vs the Rockets in 3 games this season. Why couldn’t Jimmy and JK play together?
And the talking heads are the ones in this article that expect JK to get some time on the court, Marc Stein and Jake Fisher
The spacing issue. JKs outside shooting has been troublesome all season. Their plus/minus is a -24. You are not going to all of sudden force Jimmy to shoot 3s.
Dumars has a great pick coming. Even if it’s not the #1 pick. To really get control and change the culture in NO. He has to trade Zion. He has three yrs on his contract. Maybe he wakes up after a trade. Hire Zach Edeys trainer and chef. I can’t see this team moving forward with Zion.