Warriors star Stephen Curry isn’t panicking as the offseason drags along without his team making a roster addition, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. Personnel moves have been on hold as Golden State’s front office tries to resolve a stalemate with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are reportedly planning to sign with the Warriors as soon as they’re able to, and Curry doesn’t have any anxiety about the situation with training camp still roughly six weeks away.
“It’s different, for sure,” he told reporters on Thursday at his youth basketball camp. “But my confidence is built on the identity we were able to create over the last third of the regular season last year and the playoff journey.”
Curry added, “We have a really good team,” but acknowledged there’s a “need for some pieces to help get us to the next level.”
As he prepares for his 17th NBA season, Curry explained that his offseason routine has “evolved drastically” and his workouts now emphasize “checking off all the boxes of movement and skill set that’s relevant to my game.” He doesn’t seem to have any lingering effects from the strained left hamstring that forced him to miss nearly all of the second-round playoff loss to Minnesota.
“Pacing myself nice,” he said. “Ready to finish the summer strong. … When you see me whenever Media Day is, should be primed and ready to go.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Six of the top eight players selected in the 2021 draft already have lucrative extensions in hand, but Kuminga hasn’t been able to reach an agreement on a modest salary with Golden State, notes Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. Landing with an established team, Kuminga didn’t receive the regular rotation role and consistent minutes that top-seven picks usually get. Add that to a depressed market where none of the top restricted free agents have landed an offer sheet, and it’s easy to understand Kuminga’s frustration. “He apparently thinks he’s at the Cade Cunningham–Scottie Barnes level, where he should get that type of contract,” a league source told Kroichick. “… It’s really a quandary. I think it’s bad for the Warriors and bad for him.”
- Appearing on the Glue Guys Podcast (YouTube link) Steve Kerr talked about the frustrations of trying to work with young players in the midst of a hectic NBA schedule. “We don’t practice anymore,” Kerr said. “So we have to develop these 19-year-old kids who are coming into the league without much practice time. … Frankly, I’m not great — I’m an older coach. … So I lean on the young (coaches).”
- As vice president of basketball development Kent Lacob leaves the organization, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic explores the reasons behind his decision and the stressful journey to break the news to his father, Warriors owner Joe Lacob.
The real problem is that 19 year olds shouldn’t be in the NBA. They should spend 2 seasons in college working on their game, followed by a season in the GLeague to adjust to the higher level play. All the other leagues have a developmental process. Is basketball really that easy that players could skip the whole process. It is even worse for Kuminga. He basically went from High School to an established team. At the time, the Warriors FO didn’t think they could compete, their window had closed. Unfortunately, the Celtics choked. The Ignite was a pretty sorry excuse for a league sponsored team. The didn’t spend any money on a facility for team. I doubt they put much effort into a coaching staff…And here we are with this mess.
Maybe if the NBA allowed teams to loan players out like they do in soccer?
Kuminga has some skills but he is not Barnes or Cunningham, and he will never be as good as either of those players. If he had that kind of upside a team would be working out an actual deal involving some real assets, not offering Monk or O’Neale. The market has spoken.