The NBA Finals are over – that means it’s summertime rumor season for The Association.
The Warriors have a lot to figure out this offseason as they try to keep their dynasty hopes alive for another year of Steph Curry in his prime.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony dropped a nugget in his latest mock draft, which was published Tuesday, saying that the Warriors are “exploring” trading third-year wing Jonathan Kuminga to secure a high draft pick. For now, Golden State has the No. 19 pick in the draft, which will be held on June 22.
Despite growing into a bona fide rotation player by the end of the regular season, Kuminga’s minutes dried up in the playoffs.
The immense potential of the No. 7 pick from the 2021 NBA Draft is evident – as he often sticks out as an elite athlete on a floor full of other all-world talents. Kuminga’s dunking and defense are well-known at this point, but he also quietly became a reliable 3-point shooter by the end of the regular season, shooting 45.2 percent from beyond the arc the final three months. For Kuminga, it’s all about improving his rebounding, hustle plays and effort.
Kuminga is due to make $6 million this season, which isn’t much by Warriors standards, so perhaps the team isn’t convinced he will be able to fit into their future plans. As long as Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney are on the team, it’s going to be hard for Kuminga to crack the starting lineup and get the minutes he probably deserves.
Golden State traded former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman last season, so the franchise isn’t afraid of cutting ties with young, talented players. We’ll have to see how it all plays out for Kuminga and the Warriors front office, as Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Kirk Lacob reportedly have bigger roles as Bob Myers’ contract expires on June 30.
