Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has played fewer than 10 minutes in the past eight games in which he has been active, not seeing the court at all in seven of those contests. Asked after Monday’s win over Brooklyn about Kuminga’s potential path back into Golden State’s regular rotation, head coach Steve Kerr suggested there’s no easy answer.
“It’s tough because he’s not really a short-minute player,” Kerr said (Twitter link via Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle). “I played a bunch of guys eight, 10 minutes. JK is a guy who needs his rhythm. He’s not like a Gui (Santos) or Pat (Spencer) who’s going to come in and just fly around and play with great energy for four minutes and come out. He needs some rhythm.
“He always has to stay ready. There’s a pathway there, but right now, it’s not there. But things change quickly in the NBA.”
Although Kuminga got off to a solid start this fall after a protracted restricted free agency battle with the Warriors, he quickly fell out of the starting lineup before being removed from the rotation entirely. It seems more likely than ever at this point that he and the team are headed for a mid-season split.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- While Kuminga won’t become trade-eligible until January 15, veteran guard Gary Payton II became eligible to be dealt as of Monday, and guard De’Anthony Melton and center Al Horford will follow suit this Thursday, per our list of unique trade eligibility dates for 2025/26.
- Of course, there’s no indication that the Warriors have any interest in trading Melton. In fact, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area suggests the 27-year-old looks capable of being a defensive closer who can finish games for Golden State. Through Melton’s first nine appearances following an ACL tear, the team has a remarkable +17.4 net rating and 105.5 defensive rating during his 171 minutes of action. The veteran guard still isn’t playing back-to-backs, but he has gotten up to 24 minutes in each of his past two outings. “I talked to him yesterday in Toronto and he said his body’s feeling really good,” Kerr said on Monday. “It’s a good sign. Hopefully, we’ll get to a point this season where he’s able to play back-to-backs but for now we’re being cautious.”
- Monday’s game in Brooklyn was Chris DeMarco‘s last as a Warriors assistant before he takes over as the head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty (Twitter link). “What a strange day for him to come to his new arena, go to his new office, come back to our locker room, help us play and try to win…and then that’s it,” Kerr said (Twitter link via Brian Lewis of The New York Post). “He’s staying here. Its surreal.”
- Warriors sharpshooter Buddy Hield is averaging a career-low 17.6 minutes per game this season and has been in and out of the rotation as of late. Hield – who was traded at the deadline in 2017, 2022, and 2024 – knows he’ll be involved in trade speculation again this season and he’s ready for it, Gordon writes for The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). “I feel like everybody’s trying to be fake GM … trying to see what’s best for their team,” Hield said. “I know whatever comes, comes. I can’t control that. I’m happy to be in this league. It’s a great league. If something like that happens, I’ll be ready.”
What an expensive way to drag Kuminga through the mud before you trade him. Really though, is his value higher or lower than it was this summer?
They had to hold out because they were going to trade him for Cooper Flagg and AD. Unfortunately for them, Nico didn’t make it long enough.
Rumor has it the warriors have a deal in place for him so they are holding him out until Jan 15th. They do not want him to get hurt before the trade happens. We will know if it’s true on Jan 15th.
Jimmy, Kuminga and 4 FRP for Joker and Gordon!?!? lol
This would make the most sense … I think when he hurt his knee, that scared the FO about his health before the trade deadline.
Kuminga would have more value if he wasn’t inconsistent. Every professional athlete knows they have to be ready every game. It what they are paid for. He should stop worrying about being an All-Star, or the central focus of the offense.
Kuminga leads the team in rebounds per game. GSW is losing winnable games due to being outrebounded, therefore Steve Kerr is doing malpractice right now. What an absolute bunch of garbage out of his mouth, as usual.
Melton has been excellent, but he is made of glass. Fingers crossed this will be the year he stays healthy, but unlikely.
GP2 and Buddy should be traded ASAP. Too many undersized guys on this roster. Bring in bigs like Brook Lopez, who at least can still shoot the 3 and provides size and can outrebound a 6’8″ guy like Scottie Barnes. Lopez has entered the main Clippers rotation and has them cooking. Whoever said the Dubs should trade Hield for Lopez sure does know ball.
@daveyj, We all saw what you saw at the end of the Toronto game. But Kerr stated after the game that he saw no reason to play a bigger lineup, and that he would do nothing differently in the future.
Once again, Kerr’s pride comes before winning. No other coach in the NBA gets away with that, but Kerr has the most important guy in his corner.
Kerr is quickly showing us why he is a terrible coach that got gifted some championships with a roster anyone could’ve won with
I saw on instagram someone made a video called “Steve Kerr coaching in 2017” and it’s him going “Ok, Steph…Draymond….Klay…KD…go out and ball!” lmao Kerr long been a fraud, a net negative to the team on all of his rings, a generational rider. MJ punched him for good reason, he is so arrogant and stubborn. Unfortunately it appears to having given him CTE, which tortures us all today via too small idiotic rotation use…
Don’t worry Davey Kerr is retiring at the end of the season the writing is on the wall. Warriors management is not happy with his stubbornness.
ARC 2 what do you think of “Curry/Klay/Dray” not being “true stars” that numb nuts posted above this? They went 73-9 but had “no true star” lmao what a joke, what a cope by a loser.
Curry has always been the best player on the court even when Durant was on the warriors.
Right? So Curry won the MVP but wasn’t a “true star” lmao the levels of coping here are nuclear-weapons-grade.
I bet that scrub thinks all OKC players are “stars” lol
People that hate the warriors say things like that to get a reaction. Best to ignore them. Could be LeBron fans because Curry has been a better player than LeBron.
I’m pretty excited about the trade deadline. If the Warriors go for it, let’s see who they can get to improve the team.
If they’re 10 games under .500 at the deadline, I fully expect them to be big-time sellers. And if they don’t follow through on that, it’s going to make the next five years rough.
I’m curious to know how far you think the Warriors would be willing to go in a rebuild. Being major sellers at the deadline would signal either Curry’s retirement or his departure wouldn’t it?
Can’t imagine Steph is chomping at the bit to be the locker room vet on a rebuilding squad, especially with how top heavy the west is.
Another great question. The only way Curry gets traded as if he asks out. But as far as everyone else, I think they’re all available if they sit 10 games under .500 at the deadline.
I’m not as confident that the Warriors feel the same way. Ownership is very loyal to Graymond and others.
Look how they gave Klay Thompson that Max 4yr contract literally weeks after tearing his ACL.
Look how the four or five players they made promises to over this last summer didn’t sign anywhere else, knowing the Warriors keep their word.
So a total breakdown, which would be the best for the team if they hit the wall this year? I’d love to see it. Will the Warriors do it? Not sure.
As someone who watches the Warriors pretty closely because I know you’re a basketball fan overall, what’s your opinion on how this gets handled?
They’re obviously not good enough as they stand today and I don’t think they want to go through the season settling for a play- in and quick loss.
Very tricky path ahead for GS for sure. They are going to have to walk this line between the past/current fans and the future fans. I think it’s very obvious that if they want to fully commit to a rebuild, moving Curry will be the fastest way to turn things around (if done correctly). I think both GS and Curry would be against that move but the point remains.
I think the preferred route is to go all in this season and maybe next. Waiting until the deadline to try to make that a priority has hurt them but it’s really tough to gauge the market for JK.
I think the reality will end up being that Curry’s loyalty will lead him to retiring rather than going to another team. Once Curry goes, so does Kerr. So does Dray if he hasn’t already by that time. The timeline on the rebuild will come down to drafting (as it does with all teams) and how unbeatable OKC/SA looks in 2030.
Whenever the rebuild happens, I sincerely hope that it doesn’t take 3 decades to figure out. It’s not fun lol
This is no walking the line. Green and Steph have earned the right to play for two more years win or lose. So yes gs is stuck in no man’s land. 2nd just because you tank there is no guarantee you will get a transitional player. So just enjoy the team you have now. When Curry is gone you might be a bottom dweller for 5 years
Buying buckets, yes, agreed. By tanking, I don’t necessarily mean losing games for a higher pick. As you allude to that’s no guarantee of a once in a decade talent.
I guess by tanking I mean, trade away valuable veterans to teams needing those types of players for young guys and multiple pics that hopefully you strike gold on Wherever they are.
A lot of great players chosen 12th or 23rd. You just have to draft well.
I agree with this statement.but I would do right by green and Curry. If they want to contend as long as your not trading future picks. Unless you’re getting a bona fide star I wouldn’t just trade of the vets. I would give Curry every opportunity.
Honestly if they are healthy and get a top 6 seed for the playoffs they are not an easy out and could go on a run. Trading Kuminga for a wing player/ back up 4. And getting a big is a must. I try and get nurk from Utah but not sure they can make the salary work.
@buying buckets agreed that Steph and Dray should have final say with how their careers play out. But Klay didn’t get that opportunity… why is he the odd man out?
At a certain point, if Draymond comes to you the GM and says I want to decline my player option and I want 50 million over 2 years with a 3rd year PO, you would have to make the best choice for the team and Im almost certain that is telling Draymond to hit the road. Something they did with Klay, who in all regards was more of a fan favorite than Draymond.
In my opinion, the Warriors could not continue to count on Klay Thompson‘s production.
He fell off a cliff too many games. 2–13, 3–15 etc. and those were playoff games, play in games.
He’s a proud man and kept shooting. “The next one’s going in” kind of guy.
He’s doing OK in Dallas, but he did lose his starting job
And let’s also not forget, he wanted big money again. Dallas gave it to him, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind dumping him now.
The other side of the coin is that they did do Klay right and I think it’s true He had the offer on the table of two years and a real good salary. I think he turned that down and wanted three or four years.
Thirdly, I think in some ways Klay Thompson wanted a change of scenery. Just try something else get away from the shadow.
Sorry missed this Klay is the odd man out because he didn’t accept his role as a bench player. He is not a NBA starter due to his injurys and declin. I think he will look back and say it was a bad move and should have rode out with his brothers
Wash, excellent analysis. Great snapshot of the current situation and glimpse at the future.
Yes, three decades is a long time. Aside from our little run TMC for 2 1/2 years the entire 80s, 90s, almost all of the 2000s were horrible.
My fingers are crossed that Mike Dunleavy knows what he’s doing. I like his work so far.
Boner, you’re overlooking THE critical consideration:
GSW can’t count on Steph playing beyond next season. So, GSW must make plans under dreadful uncertainty.
There’s a distinct possibility Steph doesn’t sign an extension, no matter how well things go. GSW has to account for that scenario as well as the happy one.
Recently, Steph said he would wait until next season to decide about extending. It sounds like GSW has to wait at least another year to know.
Obviously I have no clue what’s happening behind closed doors but I have to believe that Curry’s retirement wouldn’t be dropped on the team like a bomb
Boner, IMO, the problem is that Steph himself doesn’t know at this moment, and you can’t expect a 38 year old to commit 1.5 years in advance.
When a player reaches his late 30’s, he knows that his body could falter badly at any time.
GSW front office can’t proceed as if it controls Steph’s return
@Gary,
No way they’ll be 10 games under .500 – they’ll be right around .500 or a few games better because that’s their level.
The way they are going they will literally be .500 lol
“Because that’s their level”
I mean how do you even fix this kind of homerism? “They’re not bad because I believe they’re good!”. I feel for the realist Warriors fans who have to endure the fan base’s denial of the inevitable.
Any Warriors fan please reply to this: Do you actually in your heart believe that the Golden State Warriors as constructed would be able to even compete in a 7 game series against OKC/Denver/SA?
Anything can happen. They could have spurs knockout OKC. What about injuries OKC could lose a few players. Raptors know about an injured team can be beat.
I sure hope so. That means they’re buyers at the deadline. That’s great news !!
If they could get Dave’s and get to the playoffs they would be dangerous. But not sure the salary works with out going into the 2nd apron
On paper yes but he has two more years after this one at massive money. No one wants to pay that for a guy who can’t stay on the floor.
Plus, it just came out that this summer he wants to negotiate an extension because he’s eligible for that. My goodness I think Dallas is in a tough spot with this guy. Who wants to take that on? Who wants to send out their own $60 million guy to Dallas? Wouldn’t that be a good player that the team would want to keep in most cases?
Yeah but the warriors are win now for two zone years. Curry probably has a 2-year window and then he probably won’t be able to guard anybody. I still think he’ll be out of score but then he’ll be in LeBron zone where he’ll give up more points than he’s putting on the scoreboard. So it does make sense to get Davis for 2 years and then just reset from there
Agreed on the win now for the next two years. Agreed that on paper Anthony Davis coming over for Graymond Kuminga, Moody, plus another guy for salary, would be great. But the reality doesn’t match paper.
So to me, the win now means getting two guys who are plug-and play rotation dudes on a playoff team who can contribute in a big way.
At least one of them has to be a big guy a power forward type who makes a difference. Doesn’t have to be specifically a center. It can be a good power forward then the other guy is whoever but another difference maker. It’s OK Ivisa guard but if he’s a wing, that would be great.
Yes, win now. No on street clothes
You are correct the contract doesn’t work for Davis and they need another move to go with it. But that’s why I said if they are healthy in the playoffs. They do need to make a move and give Curry the next two years after that he can just have a farewell on a bad team and y’all try and start over from the ground. All the talk about Curry playing somewhere else that won’t happen. Nor will green he made his money. They want to retire warriors
Yes, the deadline will be very interesting.
Did I ever catch who your team was? They gonna be trade deadline players? Buyers or sellers?
Always been a Knicks and jazz fan. So it’s championship or bust for the Knicks. Jazz are young and building. Like what I see. My favorite player still is Curry so I love to see the warriors. Let him ride out and try to win before tearing it all down. Hopefully he stays with the same team for his whole career. We need more stars that do that
I think Curry will. He is entrenched in the Bay Area business wise and endorsements. He loves the team and all the opportunities post basketball.
But even today that almost doesn’t matter because everything is so global. He’s going to be fine whatever he decides but I think he’s loyal in a major way. Especially if they pay him 60+ million dollars to stick around.
Yeah for me Curry going to a different team just doesn’t make any sense and that’s why I said they were better off. Just trying to win these next two years because there will be a drop off from Curry after that which is okay cuz that happens to every player. LeBron fans just seem to not think that that’s happened even though it has happened. He can’t carry a team to a championship and it’s been like that for the last 3 years. I also would like to see them. Keep green. I hate when people make it seem like Green’s. Not really a great player when he was in all time defender. Passer and a. Rebounder for a good 10-year stretch. He’s a little bit older now and he’s on her size, but he’ll still have stretches where he’ll have good games and I hope both of them get to have a chance to win. Again, hopefully the warriors don’t sell their pics too far out. Maybe the next year or so they can move those pics but anything more than 3 years they’re going to need those picks when they finally start over and that might be in Curry’s last year. Okay where they’re not really a playoff team. It’s just kind of a farewell for him like they did for Kobe
Gary, FWIW, my take on Steph:
1) He doesn’t want to play for any other team, nor will GSW ever trade him.
2) After next season, Steph will sign a 1 year extension, a la LeBron with the Lakers. As Steph says, once you get this old, you take it one year at a time.
The Knicks are built well and have all the pieces. Hope they can get it done this year and make it to the finals.
Jalen Brunson has to be the player I respect the most in the entire league.
Average body, average size, average athleticism, but every inch every nuance every pump fake, and then the strength from the gym on top of all that.., counts in a major way.
He’s such a genius on the floor and he takes what you give him and goes 110% all the time.
What’s crazy is, To prove my excellent college player rating skills, I thought he was going to be a bust coming out of Villanova. Low and behold, he’s practically an MVP candidate lol
Yeah like I said for the Knicks Is championship our bust. Hopefully they don’t trade for Giannis this year and see if Bronson can get it done. If not then go ahead for the Giannis trade even though I don’t think that will age that well. Bronson is a good player and if he want to get to great he needs a conference finals or NBA championship. He can move into all-time great with a finals MVP and a championship, but you can’t play with fire. He’s a small guard so he needs to win in the next 2 to 3 years. Or the likelihood of him leading a team to a championship dramatically goes down at like 31. But hopefully this is the year for the team.
The jazz are so loaded It’s not even funny. Almost like the thunder with all the pics they got for Paul George. I think it was seven for one, the jazz are the same way after Rudy Gobert and a couple other trades. They are sitting pretty if they can draft properly.
If they do it right, they should be set up the next 10 years, but my question comes with Danny and Austin.
Are they even thinking of competing or is their favorite hobby stockpiling for the future?
They almost have a hoarders mentality lol. I think my own shed and garage at home look a lot like the Utah Jazz stock Pile of draft picks for the future.
We don’t know if they’ll be used properly, but like me, we have the stuff stacked up just in case lol
Yeah for the Jazz, I think they’re too good to tank anymore. I think they figured at the beginning of the year. Yeah we’ll go for one more top three pick but the team is just too good now with kg and Lori. Plus all the young talent. Clayton is a great young players. You will see over the next couple years. The 4 year and 3-year late second round picks are going to be some of the better picks. With teens drafting 19-year-olds only one out of three of those are going to turn out to be good. So the tanking really is a hypothetical every single year unless you get the first overall pic. And there’s a bona fide generational talent. You really don’t know what you’re getting. Usually the first overall pick will turn into at least at minimum a decent starter which is considered a bust for a first overall pick. But in my eyes with players only being 19 years old, playing AU ball teaming up on college. I mean you can’t really expect much. Great observation for the Jazz though I think they have no choice but to play and go for it moving forward
Yeah, I watched Clayton a lot in college. I spend my winners in Florida. He would sort of be quiet for the first half and then come alive in the second half when they needed him to step up.
I haven’t seen very much of him in the pros, but I’m rooting for him.
“It’s tough because he’s not really a short-minute player, JK is a guy who needs his rhythm. He’s not like a Gui (Santos) or Pat (Spencer) who’s going to come in and just fly around and play with great energy for four minutes and come out. He needs some rhythm.”
If I am Kuminga, I’ll just go home and wait ’till GSW finds a trade partner, lol
Lols yeah….so wait, are you admitting I’m not a good fit? AGAIN. This Kuminga guy must be so confused with his entire time in San Fran. Kuminga is better with more minutes but I’ll play him in spurts or not at all. OK, clear as mud Steve. I mean at this point what return do you expect?
You are right. He is not a good fit when he takes bad shots, doesn’t rebound, turns the ball over…
Doesn’t rebound?!? But Davey has been telling me for months that he leads the Warriors in rebounds per game?!?
Yeah right. Next you’re gonna say that Giannis isn’t on his way to Golden State for a 2nd round pick and Steve Kerr’s leftover kale salad! You don’t know ball!!
Kuminga leading GSW in rpg is a fact, unlike the rest of Davey’s schtick.
Apparently Kerr has figured out that playing Steph and Dray too many minutes = losing, so now he is going to play 13 guys anywhere from 4-20 minutes each, with Butler over 30 min.
Hey, it worked against the Nets – it should work against another crappy team today in Charlotte!
Kerr is right that Kuminga does better with more minutes, and he’s never going to change his mind, no matter how many games Moody shoots 17% in. Oh wait, Moody followed up that 1-6 bricking in Toronto with a 1-8, 12.5 FG% game in the Nets game.
Kuminga is not that good of a player. He will not move the needle. I’m not sure how much tape y’all need. He was just playing and not impacting winning. Again he is a jack of all trades. Good at everything elite at nothing. We have seen him when players are out come up short time after time.
Bye Bye ……. Bye Bye. …… Can’t leave fast enough. Better pray for a good return. I’ll be real curious to see who trades for him. He will flourish in right system ………. Best 2way player of his draft.
I just don’t see the market for JK. Who is lining up to give the Warriors anything for a guy who can’t see the floor or it will tank his remaining value? Especially if you’re gonna have to turn around and pay this kid even more than what he got from GS to ride the bench.
The cap is so restrictive today that the teams that could actually benefit from adding JK aren’t incentivized at all to take big swings on unproven guys. One bad contract and it’s all over. Ask Milwaukee.
Where is the Warriors fans who told me Lopez doesn’t play …. Why is it so easy for me lmao ….
Last 4 gms has avg 31 mins. All WINS
Against Blazers he put up 31 pts …..
When will you learn ……. man. I am only giving you players to look at. For your team. Hater.
I, for one, always liked the idea of Buddy-Lopez 1-1 deal. Would be perfect. Doubt the Clips will make that deal now, Lopez is so good.
Yeah .. the time was when Beal went down . Lopez wasn’t playing much. I still would chk it out. Can’t hurt right.
Give me Giannis… give them whatever….
I think the Warriors are holding hope that there’s a team out there that feels they can unlock this kid. He has physical gifts that jump off the page and there has to be a coach or GM who thinks the Warriors mishandled him?
Sure, there’s a bunch of dudes who comment on here regularly who feel the same way.
The reality is that he’s not good enough. Raw talent gets you only so far.
What will they get for JK? I’m confident Mike Dunleavy can find that guy who believes in himself enough to be a difference maker in this young man’s game and will give up a nice player in return. But of course it’ll probably be a contract that’s not so nice Coming back our way.
I am sure there are teams, especially among the non-contending teams, that would be happy to give Kuminga a shot and give him heavy minutes. But not at the trade price that the Warriors have been insisting on. Right now he is a $23mil money pit on the Warriors bench – other teams see that and are not going to give the Warriors much to solve their problem for them.
Yes, I agree with you but his $23 million goes a long way towards matching the salary of a stud coming back this way. Of course we’ll have to sweeten it with a pic or maybe another team likes Podski or Moody?
Davey J’s been right about Kerr. Coach sounds like he’s concussed with the amount of nonsense he speaks when it comes to Kuminga.