After scrimmaging with the Warriors‘ G League team on Wednesday, forward Jonathan Kuminga is targeting Saturday’s home game against the Pelicans for his return to action, he tells Anthony Slater of ESPN.
Kuminga has missed the past seven contests due to what the Warriors have referred to on their injury report as bilateral knee tendonitis. Initial reporting on Kuminga’s injury suggested it wasn’t considered significant and he was viewed as day-to-day, but he has remained on the shelf for over two weeks due to some lingering soreness.
Kuminga started Golden State’s first 12 games of the season and played well enough during the first week in October to earn a vote of confidence from head coach Steve Kerr, who declared that the fifth-year forward had earned a permanent spot in the starting lineup. However, with the Warriors struggling and Kuminga’s production less consistent during the first half of November, he was moved to the second unit for his last healthy game, on November 12, in San Antonio.
While it remains to be seen what Kuminga’s role will look like upon his return, the Warriors are in need of some scoring punch, as star guard Stephen Curry exited Wednesday’s loss to Houston due to a quad contusion and could end up missing a little time as a result of that injury.
Even with Curry available, the Warriors haven’t exactly been piling up points. They rank 22nd in the NBA with a 113.2 offensive rating, and all eight teams below Golden State on that list are at least five games below .500.
So, the question is, “Which Kuminga is going to show up”?
Showcase game. Curry will sit out, Kuminga will get all he can eat, and Warriors will hope he shows out in front of Dumars.
Trey Murphy III is the most logical Warriors trade candidate at this point, and his salary almost matches Kuminga’s. He’d immediately become their best POA defender and would fit well with Steph/Jimmy/Draymond since he can shoot it with volume.
If Horford’s health remains an issue the trade would probably be Kuminga, Hield and Warriors firsts for Murphy and Looney to give the Warriors some center depth.