Scott Ostler of The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required) has a prescription for fixing the Warriors that includes trading Jonathan Kuminga and removing Draymond Green from the starting lineup, at least on a temporary basis. He contends that significant changes are required to jump-start a team that had lost three straight games coming into tonight and is in peril of slipping out of a play-in spot.
Ostler argues that Kuminga, who will be eligible to be dealt on January 15, has become too much of a distraction because of his up-and-down play and his constantly changing status in coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation. Kuminga returned to action Thursday after being held out of the previous three games, but he played just 9:31 and missed four of his five shots from the field. Ostler believes Kuminga still has trade value because there are rival teams who think he hasn’t been given a legitimate chance to succeed and he would be better off if he’s freed from Golden State’s system.
Green should come off the bench for at least a game or two, Ostler adds, due to his persistent turnover issues (3.3 per game this season compared to a career average of 2.3) and his poor shooting (39.1% coming into Saturday’s game). Ostler predicts Green would accept the move and it would allow the team to surround Stephen Curry with at least three other shooters in the starting lineup.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Rookie center Maxime Raynaud will be the Kings‘ starting center “for the foreseeable future” after Friday’s announcement that Domantas Sabonis will miss at least four-to-five more weeks, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (subscription required). The French big man, who was taken with the 42nd pick in this year’s draft, has been productive since moving into the starting lineup, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists over the past five games while shooting 53.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Coach Doug Christie juggled his starting lineup on Thursday, Anderson adds, moving Keegan Murray from power forward to small forward, which the organization views as his “future” position.
- Lakers coach J.J. Redick said “the hope” is that Rui Hachimura will only be sidelined for three-to-five days with groin soreness, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link). Hachimura started to feel discomfort in his hip area during Thursday’s game at Utah. Redick also said Deandre Ayton (left elbow) and Austin Reaves (left calf) are both making progress and could be ready for Tuesday’s contest at Phoenix.
- Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Derrick Jones Jr., who’s sidelined with an MCL sprain, has begun playing in five-on-five scrimmages, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic. Murray suggests that Jones might be able to beat his projected timetable for a return in early January.
- Suns guard Grayson Allen missed his second straight game tonight with soreness in his right knee, but he’s expected back soon, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). “No setbacks. He’s doing more and more every day,” coach Jordan Ott said. “It’s going on the right direction. Then we’re hopeful that it continues and he’ll be out there soon.”
Popcorn is ready.
Dubs shoulda took Raynaud, great offense.
I can easily find a minimum salary guy who is better than Draymond
Jaime Jaquez
Bench guys are also better than Draymond
Jeramy Grant
Bobby Portis
Stewart
Tonight
Suns are leading 14 points? Draymond was rejected. Warriors won the game
Kuminga replaced Green in the lineup before. Draymond voluntarily went to the bench. The results weren’t good. Maybe Butler can coax more out of him.
Everyone, not just JK, would be desperate to get freed from GSW system!!!
Green is just getting old and next year should be his last. Last night he got played by CG and got kicked out. Warriors actually played better without him on the court.
Looking forward to Draymond being out of the league. His act has grown tiresome.
green’s skill level has been slipping in the last year and a half. He is at the point where he might be a bench guy next year. Once his contract expires he will hang it up.
So after 3 straight close losses (including the team’s worst shooting night of the season in a 1 pt loss to the Suns) with Will Richard being DNP-CD, Kerr gave him 19:15 of playing time last night. He proceeded to score 20 pts on 6-7 overall, 4-4 from three, and 4-4 from the ft line.
He’s shooting 55%/43%/80% for the season with a +0.4 +/- for the season, best efficiency of any of the Warriors’ guards excluding Seth’s 2 game avgs.
So will Kerr bench him again vs the Magic tomorrrow?
What bothers me more is Kerr saying he wanted to give the older players more playing time instead of putting the best players on the floor. Those older vets that are not playing well should be on the bench or DNP instead of the younger players.
A comparison of Moody and Richard per 100 possessions shows that Richard is a far better shooter and stealer and is a somewhat better rebounder.
They both are almost identical in pts per 100, 21.6 to 21.3, but Richard’s shooting 15% better overall and 5% better from three.
Kerr needs to give Richard minutes and let him play through his mistakes. He’s not going to bench Steph or Butler, Post needs to play, so it’s hard to see how they can play together vs bigger opponents.
Funny thing about your comment is what i been thinking that Richards good play means that the warriors can offer Moody in trade. Richards is cheaper and does about the same job as Moody.