The Warriors are heading into a pivotal offseason as they look to put together a roster that can help stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler compete at the highest level possible.
On Friday, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke about one of the biggest questions facing the team in that effort: what to do with the talented but inconsistent wing, Jonathan Kuminga, who will be a restricted free agent this summer.
“As far as bringing him back next season, I think it’s something we’re very interested in doing because, when I look at the things JK does well, in terms of getting to the rim, finishing, getting fouled, these are things we greatly need,” Dunleavy said, as reported by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
Team owner Joe Lacob‘s well-chronicled appreciation for Kuminga works in favor of the 22-year-old from the Congo remaining with the Warriors. However, Dunleavy was far from definitive when he discussed Kuminga’s future in the Bay.
“I know how we can work with him better,” Dunleavy said. “But in terms of guessing how it’s all going to play out or what the contract might look like or sign-and-trades and things like that, honestly, I’d be totally guessing at this point to conjecture on anything.”
Assuming they tender him an $8MM qualifying offer as expected, the Warriors could negotiate a new multiyear deal with Kuminga, let him seek an offer sheet with another team, or work out a sign-and-trade deal to send him elsewhere. He could also choose to accept his QO, which would put him in track for unrestricted free agency in 2026.
Kuminga’s role fluctuated throughout the season, as well as in the playoffs, but Curry’s injury in the first round opened the door for him to receive major minutes and he made the most of the opportunity, despite the Warriors falling to the Timberwolves in five games. In his final four outings, he averaged 31 minutes per night and put up 24.3 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from three and racking up 6.3 free throw attempts per game.
Head coach Steve Kerr admitted earlier this spring that he had trouble using Kuminga alongside Butler and Draymond Green, but indicated on Friday that he’ll exercise more patience exploring lineup fits for the 6’8″ forward should he remain on the roster.
“If JK comes back, we will, for sure, spend the early part of the season playing him with Jimmy, Draymond, Steph,” Kerr said. “To me, that would be a no-brainer. We didn’t have that luxury this year.”
Kerr and Dunleavy ended their press conference by reiterating that they believe the roster has championship potential while acknowledging that changes will likely have to be made. The Warriors’ GM didn’t close the door on the idea of giving up young players and draft picks to pursue another impact player after adding Butler in February, but suggested the front office would be wary of moves that could hurt the team in the long run.
“We’re good giving up whatever it takes,” Dunleavy said. “It just depends how good we think that will make our team. I think the only issue with mortgaging the future is you just don’t want to get caught. I don’t want to get caught in a situation where we give up a ton, put all our chips in, and then 10 games into the season, we have a catastrophic injury, there’s nowhere to go, and then we’re stuck for four or five years.”
A sign-and-trade to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson makes a lot of sense.
We know the two teams discussed a larger deal when they made the Melton-for-Schroeder deal earlier this year.
The Nets can sign JK outright. No need for a sign-and-trade. But, they want someone who is more polished Kuminga.
The Warriors can make Butler work with Kuminga. Kuminga worked with Wiggins. Butler came in and completely changed the Warriors season. The Warriors were a disaster before he arrived. JK was injured. You just can’t upset the chemistry for one person. It’ll be better to work things out in training camp without the pressure of the playoffs looming. JK needs to work on his shooting. Early season slumps make it hard to keep him in the starting lineup.
they cannot sign him outright. he’s an RFA.
philliesfan215 said:
> they cannot sign him outright. he’s an RFA.
That’s right. I think that what Giants74 meant was that the Nets, unlike any other team at the moment, have the cap space to tender an offer at Kuminga’s market value in the $30-$35M/yr arange.
Kuminga actually fits the Nets’ timeline perfectly. And the Nets have other assets that give them optionality in deal-making in a sign and yradw
Giants74, nobody is expecting Kuminga to significantly improve his 3-point shooting, nor does he need to. Kuminga gets to the basket, just like Butler (a career 30% 3-point shooter), and that helps everyone else. Kerr wants Kuminga shooting less, not more.
The challenge is to fit Kuminga with the offense. That requires an investment by multiple parties. The result will determine how long or whether Kuminga stays with the Warriors.
Dude all Real ballers improve. Especially 22 yr olds. You think jow they will work him in when. What have Warriors done last 3 yrs. He’s gone. Kuminga is a fool to stay.
LOL that’s not happening
Right like what
Claxton is who you want. He makes Warriors a real contender.
Kuminga is sitting beside owner Joe Lacob on the floor at the Valkyries game tonight. The two are being extremely friendly and talkative.
Many other Warriors — including Kerr and Draymond — are in attendance. But they’re nowhere near the owner.
The whole thing is amusing… wanting JK back after basically sending him to the doghouse for most of the season. Faced with the prospect of losing him, now talk about how valuable he is… wut?! Would be funny if JK is back and Kerr isn’t.
In the doghouse? I remember him being injured for half the season. I didn’t know that was called being in the doghouse?
Yes, he was injured but when he came back, he was out of the rotation for the most part, no?
Before he was injured, the Warriors were losing. They traded for Butler. The Warriors started winning. Then he back from injury. Do you change the chemistry of a winning rotation for one player?
Either he is a net plus or he isn’t. There are minutes to go around for good players. full stop. The rest of it is just noise.
I would get a tattoo of Kuminga’s face on my arm if he was the one to finally make Lacob see the light and finally understand that Kerr is washed up and never was actually a positive as a head coach, and that GSW actually had a contending roster the last 3 years and Kerr did nothing to help them win, and finally fired him.
Uh…Aristotle…When did Kerr say he wants Kuminga to shoot less? I never read that anywhere. How does that help the Warriors?
JK started out last season in a shooting funk. He lost his starting job. The biggest problem for the Warriors last season was spacing. Teams were doubling up on Curry. The offense went stagnant.
Sure, Butler doesn’t shoot a lot of 3s. But, he draws a lot of fouls, and makes those FTs. JK doesn’t.
@Giants74
JK made 74.1% of his free throws in the Wolves series, including 11-12 in game 4. Butler shot 75% from the free throw line in that series.
JKs career FT% is below 70. Butler’s career FT% is well above 80. Coaches can’t predict what a player will do.
> When did Kerr say he wants Kuminga to shoot less?
Several times. Check out Kerr’s criticism after the game at Denver early this season. He wants more of Kuminga’s attempts to come at the rim, and not at the 3 point line or in the midrange. Kerr believes this brings more success to Kuminga individually and also creates space for the shooters.
The entire struggle with Kuminga has been about exactly this problem: Kuminga wants to shoot the ball, as opposed to pressuring the rim and creating for others.
Kuminga is good as gone…
Kuminga lost all his value because Steve Kerr benched him for no reason to end the season and the playoffs. He recovered a but of that value against Minnesota, but the damage was already done.
If they want a sign and trade, I dont expect them to get someone like Cam Johnson or anyone at that level. But nba teams make stupid decisions, so who knows.
For me, the important question is – what does Kuminga want? It seems to me that he has always been a poor fit with the Warriors. If there is another team that really wants him AND he would be a good fit with that team, then he will move on.
Well it’s not that Kuminga is a “poor fit” on GSW, more that Kerr has no clue how to play anyone who isn’t a shooting guard.
Kuminga is a poor fit with Steve “I wanna play 5 SG’s at once as often as possible” Kerr.
The warriors will do a QO. What will happen is if another team offershim a big contract will the warriors match it or do a sign and trade with the other team. Since they only get back half the value its most likely for draft picks coming back.
arc89 , there is only 1 team with the cap space to make an offer to Kuminga: the Nets. We’ve been studying the Nets’ roster since November for that reason.
The Nets definitely have draft picks, but they don’t have a player in the $12M-$17M / year range that could help the Warriors next season. You might be able to get other teams involved, but the options are Iimited.
In six months after signing (around end of 2025, about 25 games into the season), the inconvenient restrictions expire and the options multiply. That’s why it makes more sense for GSW to retain him now even if they intend to trade him.
I agree that they will not just let him go. Signing him to trade him later might be what happens. Everyone assumes the Nets want him but they have said nothing about wanting him. Wait until a few player options are not picked up to see what the Nets want to do. Cam Thomas contract is up after next year their best player so they need money to resign him. Also Zaire Williams who is same size and young is due for a extension so they might save money and resign Zaire at a better rate.
@aristotle I wish people would stop trying to make Nets-Warriors trades happen, they aren’t a great fit. Yes, GSW could sure use Cam Johnson, but aside from Draymond+Podz+picks GSW can’t really offer anything Brooklyn would want. Claxton isn’t that good, FA Brook Lopez is way easier to get, FA Steven Adams and Lopez together as a big duo might cook next year. GSW has better teams to work with on trades.
Kuminga sign-and-trade is definitely still on the table though. He might end up on the Nets in a multi-teamer, but GSW likely won’t be acquiring any Nets players this offseason. Really am not seeing many Nets players aside from Johnson working on GSW and Kerr.
I think GSW likely will keep him. He will outlast Jimmy so there will be a path for him.
@DaveyJ The GSW stakeholders are not aligned, and that will become increasingly obvious over the next 7 months…
Kerr, Steph, Draymond and Butler care only about these next 2 seasons, as they should. They’d prefer to see the JK, Podz, and Moody exchanged for a player that puts them over the top now.
Lacob and Dunleavey must ALSO care about what happens after those guys leave. That’s why they value the young core..
With each day that Kuminga, Podz, and Moody are still on the roster, the possibility of any of them being traded goes down. If GSW is out of the playoff picture this January, the young guys won’t be traded. It’ll be the start of a rebuild.
Agree on most of that, but am not sure they will ever “rebuild” with an active Steph. The youth core already has a bunch of time with him already, a rebuild in this case would actually mean trading Kuminga, Moody etc to go even younger. TJD is 25 next year already. If anything they should be trading Podz, Spencer, Buddy and Moody first, not Kuminga. GSW should be re-sizing the roster, not rebuilding.
I do wish they’d try and pair Steph up with 2 better players than Jimmy and Dray, if that means KD and Reaves, and it can happen easily 1-1, so be it.
KD would never return to GS. The Suns missing the playoffs doesn’t change that.
@DaveyJ- We’re mostly in agreement. Keep in mind that a true rebuild means least 3 out of the playoffs, probably 4, and often 5. See OKC, Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, and Utah. And the first 3 years are brutal. Lacob has said the Warruors won’t do that.
Give the Warruors credit for developing a young core on the side so that they don’t have to do a a full rebuild.
As you often point out, you can’t get much younger than this group. Kuminga, Podz, Moody, and Santos are all only 22 years old. Because they’re so young, they will continue to get better. Yet, they have much more experience, including playoffs, than an rebuilding team dies
This group of 6 (add TJD and Post to the above 4) typically takes 3-4 years of a rebuild to axquire. For example, it’s a better young core than Utah’s after 3 years. As with the development of all young cores, it took 2 draft picks for every 1 player that has stuck. Wiseman, PBJ, Hollins, Beekman, and, maybe TJD were the failures.
Those 6 players will cost less than $55M/yr for the next 2 years (assuming $30M for Kuminga). GSW effectively controls their rights well beyond Steph’s departure. Lacob and Dunleavey see that as a core that enables them to build around quickly to avoid being irrelevant for too long.
But trade the young core away now for short-term benefit now, this team wontbwin more than 15 games for a few years and Chase Center will be half empty.
Kerr is full of sh*t:
““If JK comes back, we will, for sure, spend the early part of the season playing him with Jimmy, Draymond, Steph,” Kerr said. “To me, that would be a no-brainer. We didn’t have that luxury this year.”
It should have been a no-brainer this season. As if playing him next season will somehow be different? This is just another swipe at Kuminga.
You should try watching the Warriors before making comments. Maybe you would understand.
I watch every game. What does that non sequitur have to do with Kerr not playing JK even in blowouts once Butler was acquired?
Easy, you two. The fight isn’t here….it’s out THERE. I know some of you may be getting sick of it, even to the point of disgust – but I’m gonna harp on it perhaps one more time this weekend. Here goes: don’t let ANY of this politically correct fluff coming from Kerr/MDJ/Lacob fool you. Until GIANNIS is suiting up this October in a uniform that doesn’t have an image of a bridge on it – with general colors being blue, yellow, and white – there is every reason to believe (and EXPECT) that same trio of Kerr/MDJ/Lacob to soon be doing everything humanly (AND legally) possible to woo The Greak Freak away from the doomsday Bucks franchise. Steph DESPERATELY needs another superstar SCORER to take the load off of him – Jimmy has more often than not shown he cannot/will not/does not WANT TO BE that individual.
If Giannis indeed would want Jimmy to stay a Warrior though before setting his sights on the Bay Area – and the incredible crowdedness that comes with it – then you must appease the man. Kuminga UNDOUBTEDLY is the main piece which has to go! You anticipate a $25M average annual salary for him; couple that with Dray’s similar yearly earnings, and there is the beginning foundation of a trade for Giannis. Throw in either Moody or Hield as the third, and only THEN sort out the draft pick compensation. Hope that AJ Green comes along with Giannis. A quartet of Steph, Giannis, Jimmy, and Podz (the latter two being your main ball handlers) has me salivating more than the current roster condition. Even if this group got past the Wolves, they were destined to fall short in the conference finals. Not….enough…..offense.
I guess you would have noticed that the Warriors started winning while JK was out? You just can’t throw in a player and disrupt a winning rotation. Basketball is all about chemistry. You build it in training camp, not with the playoffs staring you in the face.
Sure, but you should also want to give the 22 yo coming back from injury 3rd option playing time in blowouts. Then when he’s needed he’s better.
@NBAisOK. you are right. At this point anybody not named Steve Kerr knows that Kerr a terrible job with Kuminga.
Giants74 said
> I guess you would have noticed that the Warriors
> started winning while JK was out?
FALSE. When Kuminga was injured in early January, the Warruors were still over .500. They played their worst of the season between that time and when Butler jo Iined a few weeks later, at which point they had a losing record.
The Warriors got better because Butler joined, not because Kuminga got injured.
They didn’t mention defense in Kuminga’s skill set. So get rid of him.
JK‘s defense is greatly improved.
He can stay in front of guys like Anthony Edwards and other shooting guards/ small forwards. It’s great to see.
He’s definitely worked on it and has a desire to be good on defense.
Stop talking about Cam Johnson everyone. He is overrated tweener on a horrible contract because the guy cannot stay healthy. Definitely a sixth man on a good team
They need a veteran C starter!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! and a PG and C prospects (22-23years old, Post is 25)
Please someone say Cam Johnson is a great player
1. Fire Kerr
2. Replace GP2 and Loon with Melton and Lopez
3. Trade Jimmy and Buddy as a package for a star who is physically bigger in size than Jimmy
4. Remove as many under 6’6″ guys from the roster as possible via trade
5. Trade Post and TJD for 2 bigs who play defense
5. Tell new HC to play twin towers lineups
Well, I just rewatched that last game and I have a hard time seeing championship contribution from Kuminga now. Three rebounds and 0 assists in 32 minutes! I like the kid, but he needs a higher motor and or bball IQ. He just watches when Butler makes his move and attracts a double. No recover from the weak side. Only “creation” is driving open lanes, but he’s exciting to watch. So good for ticket sales post-Curry, I guess. Only 22 but not a rookie. (Shrugs)
Kuminga has all the talent in the world, but because he has Kerr as a coach, he is stunted developmentally. He needs proper direction, but Kerr is all vibes, its all just riding Curry’s greatness. Kuminga can still be developed, but because Kerr is the worst coach in NBA history at developing players and only wins because Curry exists, Kuminga is a bit behind where he could be.
> Well, I just rewatched that last game and I have a hard time seeing championship
> contribution from Kuminga now. Three rebounds and 0 assists in 32 minutes!
Proving once again that anybody can make numbers say whatever they want them to.
Are you aware that Kuminga’s defensive assignment was to guard Anthony Edwards. As in, he wasn’t in a position to get defensive rebounds? Could his rebounding use improvement? Of course.
Stats are helpful, but you need to look at all of them. 26 points in 31 mins in that game. He averaged 24 points over 4 games, scoring at a pace of 28 points per 36 minutes. That’s against one of the top defenses in the league. Kuminga was our only effective wing defender.
It’s not saying much because we sucked and Butler disappeared, but Kuminga was clearly our best player in the series.
As for the IQ, he’s only 22 years old. None of the other 7 teams in the 2nd round playoffs used a player younger than Kuminga, much less started one.
Might as well go, maybe not totally all in, but still mortgage the near future to give as much chance for this Steph era. Once Steph leaves, it should be accepted a rebuild/lean years are ahead. But to have low/middle tier teams to close out his career would be a shame.
Kuminga’s situation has resemblances to Kawhi’s in San Antonio, as a greatly talented player in a championship team and, though some years removed, and with many changes, dynasty environment, that doesn’t put him in a 1st or 2nd option position. The difference now is that Butler takes up his slot, and not playing him at all (which I find outrageous and a sign of punishment by Kerr/coaching staff), when all the other players get minutes in blowouts (including Kevin Knox, and two-way players converted this playoffs, meaning out of the rotation players for all year), is a roadblock in his development, at least with this franchise. That’s a shame because, even if eventually he leaves, getting your first years in the league in a championship organization, and learning to win, would benefit him greatly, when he has to play for other team. That was Kawhi’s case. They brought him along the first couple of years, and blossomed in the finals (great defense on Lebron) in the 2014 championship. Then, in SAS’ big three final years in the league, he became the franchise player. Even when leaving in a bad note from SA, which was a shame, he became the top player who propelled the Raptors’ championship and arguably a top-3 player in the league (I’d say top 2, him and KD).
Kuminga’s situation has resemblances, and even his skillset has resemblances to Kawhi’s. I would say his potential is that of a top NBA player, if he reaches it.
Lastly, GSW has had similar problems with Wiseman (actually a higher pick, 2nd overall). Wiseman wasn’t developed to his potential and now has to recover from a torn Achilles. He couldn’t scratch his full potential,yet.
There is a huge difference between Kawhi, Kuminga and Wiseman. Kawhi had 2 years of college. Kuminga and Wiseman were High Schoolers. That is a lot missing development time.
Putting Kuminga’s development at 22 years into context, on the 7 other teams in 2nd round of the playoffs (MIN, DEN, OKC, NYK, CLE, IND, BOS), in these 2nd round games:
1. No player younger than JK on these 7 teams has played a minute. JK averaged 30 mins
2. No 22 year old (or younger) has started a game. JK started 4.
Keep his young age in mind to understand how he’ll be valued.
For all the crybabies on here. Who have trashed and dogged Kuminga for yrs now. Who just don’t understand what developing in the NBA means.
You will now get your wish. At least in a sign-n-trade for Kuminga. You should get decent value back.
Be thankful they listened to me and played him. Cause it did raise the value the Warriors killed for Kuminga……. Portland is a good place for Kuminga imo.
Nobody from the Warriors listened to you. That is completely ridiculous. You obviously don’t know anything about how Kerr used Kuminga and when he was successful. Stop pretending you know what you are talking about.
I’m the only who wanted to play him in playoffs. You want me to bring back the posts. All you and the crybabies here ever did was complain about him. I have said many times what you need to do with JK. And posted many times how Warriors have failed him. Over two years now. And all of it has come out now. Its just like I said it was. Talent knows talent. All you and 80% of Warriors phonies do here is cry .. Go cry about who he will be traded for.
@Giants74
for somebody that OBVIOUSLY doesn’t understand hoops you sure do a lot of criticizing people that obviously do.
I agree. It’s like everyone expects him to be a all star by 22 and dethrone Draymond Green at PF. Remember there are alot of new age fans on here they do not know what development in the NBA means
ReplyFlag
Giants74
May 10, 2025
So, you are saying that pointing out that Kuminga’s shooting is down from last year when he was a starter is complaining. He only achieved that when Draymond was at the 5, which is unsustainable. It is just a fact. He was a starter at the beginning of the season, but he stunk. How is the coaching staff to blame for JK not shooting like he did in the past?
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This you constantly crying. The development of a player takes as long as it does. Only clowns blame it on players. Players will always be up and down. Its up to team to make it work somehow. You want to put it all on the player. Then try and make it about me being a know it all. Dude we are not in same L EVER..that don’t mean you can’t understand the Team has the responsibility of teaching. You only find blame. I try and find a way to a solution. Go
Learn stop crying.
@KnickerbockerAl
Have you thought about using AI to clean up your posts?
I know there is some great stuff in there but no human being can make sense of the gobbledygook.