Jonathan Kuminga Could Reportedly Be Traded: What This Means for the Warriors’ Young Core
Jonathan Kuminga just came off a stellar 2023 regular season, but coach Steve Kerr’s decision to cut him from the playoff rotation makes Kuminga’s situation with the Warriors extremely peculiar.
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The Golden State Warriors put together one of the strangest seasons for a team coming off a championship run. They kept their main core together in the 2022 offseason by signing Jordan Poole to a four-year, $128 million contract extension while also signing Andrew Wiggins to an extension worth four years, $109 million. Despite Poole averaging career highs in both assists and points per game (PPG) and Wiggins continuing his stellar play from the 2022 playoffs, the Warriors garnered a mere 44 wins and were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by the Los Angeles Lakers, which was mainly due to the Warriors’ lackluster road record. They recorded only 11 road wins, the fourth-worst in the NBA, but they strangely had the third-best home record in the NBA with 33 wins and just eight losses, which was actually a better home record than their 2022 championship season. This was an anomaly to say the least, especially considering Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson had some of their most productive and efficient seasons, and Draymond Green continued his dominance as the Warriors’ defensive anchor and offensive orchestrator.
So, what happened? The Warriors had just the 15th-ranked defense, which was uncharacteristic for a Warriors squad that is consistently top 10 and mostly top five in that category. Andrew Wiggins also missed a significant chunk of the season, Curry had a few freak injuries, and Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr both admitted that the preseason punch to Jordan Poole affected the team’s shortcomings more than originally described. The Warriors’ young core also received variable playing time, which contributed to inconsistent bench production early in the 2023 season. Roles were not clearly defined for young studs Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, as even though Kuminga was a staple in the regular-season rotation with his improved three-point shooting, decision-making, and perimeter defense, Moody took over Kuminga’s spot in the playoff rotation (though that also had to do with Andrew Wiggins returning for the playoffs). Kerr has relied on Moody more consistently in their last two playoff runs because of his timely shooting and rebounding, something Kerr said that Kuminga wasn’t doing enough of. Now, a report has come out that the Warriors may want to acquire a “high” pick in the 2023 draft by trading away Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors’ talented young core may be in serious jeopardy if the restructured front office decides to scrap the two-timeline plan.
Kuminga Should Be a Significant Part of the Warriors’ Future
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Coming off a season where Kuminga averaged 9.9 PPG, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 37 percent from three in his second year, it seems reasonable that the Warriors would keep him for at least another season. However, the fact that Steve Kerr didn’t trust Kuminga enough to give him minutes in the playoffs is alarming. The lack of rebounding is a reasonable concern and given that Kuminga is basically the second-tallest player on the Warriors, rebounding should be a top priority for him. Additionally, his three-point shooting did improve considerably, but he’s not the natural three-point shooting threat compared to Moses Moody. Despite these minor shortcomings, it’s rare to find a player as young and athletic as Kuminga with the defense and decision-making improvements he has, and the Warriors should NOT be quick to trade him. Even if an offer comes up where the Warriors can acquire a high pick, it doesn’t mean they should take it. There’s a reason the Warriors drafted Kuminga in the first place, and he’s shown enough progress to be a staple contributor. He gives the Warriors a boost of length and athleticism that they’ve been lacking for the past two years.
What Would a Jonathan Kuminga Trade Look Like?
Realistically speaking, if the report by Jonathan Givony is valid, there are only a few scenarios where the Warriors might be able to acquire another draft pick in the 2023 draft (especially one inside the top 10). The teams that make the most sense and who might agree to a deal involving Kuminga are the Indiana Pacers, the Utah Jazz, and the Dallas Mavericks. These trades also guarantee that the Warriors keep their 19th overall pick and created using Fanspo:
Jonathan Kuminga for the Indiana Pacers’ seventh overall pick
Jonathan Kuminga for Damian Jones and the Utah Jazz’s ninth overall pick
Jonathan Kuminga for Javale McGee and the Dallas Mavericks’ 10th overall pick
What About Moses Moody?
Image credit: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press
After a 2023 regular season that saw Moody average just 4.8 PPG and 1.7 rebounds in just 13 minutes per game (MPG), he was thrust into the playoff rotation for the Warriors and played an integral role as a three-point specialist and offensive rebounder. Moody saw limited minutes like the regular season, but he played in all but one playoff game for the Warriors in 2023 while averaging 5.9 PPG on a scorching 59.1 percent from the three-point line. He was arguably the Warriors’ most consistent and reliable bench player in the playoffs, which prompted Steve Kerr to say that Moody had a “breakthrough” season. Coach Kerr trusts Moody more than Kuminga in the biggest moments, so despite the inconsistent play from Moody in the regular season, he has proven to be a reliable contributor in the playoffs. Moody’s shooting and rebounding make him an ideal wing next to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, so it’s unlikely the Warriors look to trade him now. The 2024 season will be important for Moody as if he continues his stellar play from the last part of the 2023 season and the Warriors’ playoff run, he might be a staple in the Bay Area for years to come.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins
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Image credit: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press
These are the other members of the Warriors' young core that might get moved if a draft day deal were to go down. Patrick Baldwin Jr. was the 28th pick in the 2022 draft, while Ryan Rollins was 16 picks later at #44. It’s important to note that the Warriors traded up in the 2022 draft to acquire Rollins, and they see their possible point guard of the future in him alongside Jordan Poole. Rollins has a near 6’10 wingspan, despite being a 6’3 point guard. On the other hand, Baldwin Jr. is a 6’10 power forward and prolific three-point shooter, a perfect player for the modern NBA. He has a high basketball IQ and had some great moments last season when Wiggins and Kuminga were out with injuries. Baldwin Jr. shot 38 percent from three, and since he’s the prototypical modern big in every way, his trade value is likely higher than most realize. Still, Baldwin Jr. or Rollins won’t get moved unless the Warriors can trade them with Kuminga to get a top-10 draft pick or acquire a valuable veteran in return. The Warriors made calculated investments in Baldwin Jr. and Rollins in 2022 for good reasons. These guys will likely be mainstays for at least another year.
