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.
Problem with evaluating Trey Murphy is the same as with evaluating Lauri Markkanen and, last year, Cam Johnson with the Nets: their only impressive play comes from playing for tanking teams, and so much of it is garbage time.
Yet, we will annoint these players as certain stars because, well, who else deserves our attention. Trey Murphy is NOT going to land the Pelicans multiple FRP’s in a trade. And he is categorically not an elite PoA defender.
Trey Murphy is no more a lead defender or great PoA defender than Cam Johnson was/is. If you’ve watched Cam on Denver this year, you’ll know what I mean. And If you watched Lauri Markkanen play the Warriors on Monday, you’ll know that he’s worth $20M less than the $50M the Jazz are paying him.
I don’t know if you watched Trey Murphy guard Steph last time they played but this is just a terrible take. If you’re putting Trey Murphy in the category of Markannen or Cam Johnson as a defender, that’s just off. Murphy is a good defender and those other two are not.
My point was that all 3 of these players (who play for horrendous teams) have inflated reputations, and not that Markkanen is a better defender than Murphy.
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of Trey Murphy, and not just against the Warriors. He’s a decent on-ball defender, not a great one. He’s a 37% 3-pt, stationary (not movement) shooter — good, but not great.
On a crappy team, Murphy plays 35 mpg and gets 15 attempts. Murphy got a rookie extension at $24M last summer when big deals were easy to come by. No, he’s not worth multiple FRP’s, much less with Jonathan Kuminga on top.
Pelicans are not trading Murphy for Kuminga. He is a better player in his role. He is there best trade asset. So if they want picks that’s who they would trade. It’s funny people on this site really value players more than what they are. There’s a reason why nobody signed him this all season and there is a stale meate. He hasn’t shown anything different from previous years to this year. The warriors are pretty stuck. Will they be able to trade him? Probably eventually but I guarantee you can. Kaminga will have to opt into his contract and if he doesn’t he will not get the money he thinks he’s going to get. He value is pretty low to other teams as a 4/5 option. Like 15-20 a year and that’s pushing it.
The good thing from a trade value perspective is that Kuminga’s second year is a team option.
Oh course Murphy is far more valuable than Kuminga. The value from the Pel’s perspective would multiple Warriors first rounders which would convey during their decline phase in the brutal West.
Kuminga gets to spread his wings and start on a bad rebuilding team.
Only thing brutal about West. Is they suck big time if the Lakers are second best team …….
Research the record when West teams play East teams every year since Jordan’s retirement.
The warriors are not giving up more than 1 pick for Murphy. they would go for other players. I agree he would be perfect but bane got 4 first rounds. They are about the same player. So I don’t see it happening. Same for Utah. They would have to give up three picks to get Laurie. I do think the warriors will make a trade but for Kaminga fans it will be more of the same on his new team and the return will no be something crazy
How about instead of questioning a player. You actually try and find out what he’s dealing with. It’s the same keys you use to post your displeasure……
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“Patellar Tendinitis: A Common Knee Injury – OrthoEdge …
Bilateral knee tendinitis is an inflammation of the patellar tendon in both knees, caused by repetitive stress from overuse activities like jumping or running. This condition, also known as “jumper’s knee,” leads to pain, swelling, and tenderness below the kneecap, which can worsen with activity. It is often treated with rest, ice, physical therapy, and exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles.”
link to my.clevelandclinic.org
You better pray he doesn’t need surgery. Get your rest and treatment player. Game ain’t going nowhere. Get Well JK.
So, you are trying to lecture me about something I have had longer than Kuminga has been alive. This an issue that will be resolved through surgery.
He had started to lose focus. He fell into some of his old habits. A bunch of other Warriors have had the same issue.
Seriously? Trey Murphy “is about the same player as Desmond Bane”?
See Cam Johnson for a closer comp to Trey Murphy.
When Murphy plays at an Al-Star at near All-Star level for 3 seasons, and for a winning team. Until then he’s a good 3-and-D player, worth $24M/yr, chucking for a terrible team.