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As if the saga of Jonathan Kuminga in a Warriors uniform could not get more confounding, the way Kuminga performed in the four games that Golden State played without Stephen Curry has only further obscured the picture. While it appeared that coach Steve Kerr had successfully drummed Kuminga out of the Warriors rotation, and perhaps off the team altogether when he hits restricted free agency this summer, the hamstring injury to Curry forced Kuminga back onto the floor with a major role.
He was impressive with 18 points in Game 2. And he only got better from there. In all, in the last four games of the Warriors' stunted playoff run, Kuminga averaged 23.4 points on 55.4% shooting and 38.9% 3-point shooting.
That shot holes through the theory that Kerr had presented down the stretch of the season, when he moved Kuminga to the bench. Kerr has insisted that Kuminga and star forward Jimmy Butler don't work on the floor together.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Now, the question is, what do the Warriors do with Kuminga over the summer? He turned down contract extension offers last offseason, seeking $35 million-plus annually. The Warriors were never going to go that high. And they are banking on the fact that no one else will, either.
"He was really in a tough spot going into the summer," one Western Conference exeuctive said. "There's only one team that can pay him, and anyone else would have to stretch to make a sign-and-trade work. Not a lot of teams will be willing to do that."
The Warriors will have to take part in a sign-and-trade, and there is some question as to how willing they will be to do so. They need assets that better fit their core, and Kuminga could be a chip to bring those in. But ownership still has a known affection for Kuminga.
If that reality holds, the only team that could realistically sign Kuminga without a sign-and-trade is the Nets. No other NBA team has significant cap space, but if the Nets did focus on Kuminga, the Warriors could lose him for nothing in return.
The Warriors are hopeful that the Nets have their sights set elsewhere this summer.
"Look, he is not No. 1 on the Nets' list," the exec said. "They want Giannis (Antetokounmpo) in a trade. They wanted (Cooper) Flagg, of couse. But Kuminga for them is going to be Plan C, Plan D. They're not going to pay him $30 million, but after the way he has bounced back, you could see him getting a deal with options around $20 million. That's something the Warriors could pay him."
The exec said that, if a deal for Antetokounmpo is off the table, the Nets could instead look to add assets by facilitating an Antetokounmpo trade, or other deals. Brooklyn could collect, perhaps, multiple first-round picks by using its cap space to park other teams' unwanted players.
Only if that does not materialize would it be likely that the Nets go for Kuminga as a straight signing. Even then, a sign-and-trade is a possibility.
"In the end, you're probably going to get bidding from Brooklyn on him, but the Warriors can match," the exec said. "That's probably how it plays out--Brooklyn makes an offer, the Warriors match or don't match, everyone moves on."
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He was impressive with 18 points in Game 2. And he only got better from there. In all, in the last four games of the Warriors' stunted playoff run, Kuminga averaged 23.4 points on 55.4% shooting and 38.9% 3-point shooting.
That shot holes through the theory that Kerr had presented down the stretch of the season, when he moved Kuminga to the bench. Kerr has insisted that Kuminga and star forward Jimmy Butler don't work on the floor together.
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Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00)Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Now, the question is, what do the Warriors do with Kuminga over the summer? He turned down contract extension offers last offseason, seeking $35 million-plus annually. The Warriors were never going to go that high. And they are banking on the fact that no one else will, either.
"He was really in a tough spot going into the summer," one Western Conference exeuctive said. "There's only one team that can pay him, and anyone else would have to stretch to make a sign-and-trade work. Not a lot of teams will be willing to do that."
The Warriors will have to take part in a sign-and-trade, and there is some question as to how willing they will be to do so. They need assets that better fit their core, and Kuminga could be a chip to bring those in. But ownership still has a known affection for Kuminga.
Brooklyn Nets Could Make a Jonathan Kuminga Play
If that reality holds, the only team that could realistically sign Kuminga without a sign-and-trade is the Nets. No other NBA team has significant cap space, but if the Nets did focus on Kuminga, the Warriors could lose him for nothing in return.
The Warriors are hopeful that the Nets have their sights set elsewhere this summer.
"Look, he is not No. 1 on the Nets' list," the exec said. "They want Giannis (Antetokounmpo) in a trade. They wanted (Cooper) Flagg, of couse. But Kuminga for them is going to be Plan C, Plan D. They're not going to pay him $30 million, but after the way he has bounced back, you could see him getting a deal with options around $20 million. That's something the Warriors could pay him."
The exec said that, if a deal for Antetokounmpo is off the table, the Nets could instead look to add assets by facilitating an Antetokounmpo trade, or other deals. Brooklyn could collect, perhaps, multiple first-round picks by using its cap space to park other teams' unwanted players.
Only if that does not materialize would it be likely that the Nets go for Kuminga as a straight signing. Even then, a sign-and-trade is a possibility.
"In the end, you're probably going to get bidding from Brooklyn on him, but the Warriors can match," the exec said. "That's probably how it plays out--Brooklyn makes an offer, the Warriors match or don't match, everyone moves on."
Continue reading...
