The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has been centered around the organization’s inability to solve its Jonathan Kuminga issue.
The Dubs reportedly aren’t trading the former lottery pick this summer, but ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan believes the franchise will cut ties with the NBA champion forward in the foreseeable future.
“Whatever ends up happening between now and October 1, one thing’s for sure: Kuminga and the Warriors are about to part ways,” Pagaduan wrote Thursday.
“The relationship between the two parties appears to be strained beyond repair, and it’s the smart move for the Warriors to eventually part ways with the 22-year-old forward. Of course, keeping the asset is the number one priority, hence the stalemate between the two sides.”
“But eventually, the Dubs have to trade him away and cash in before the league comes to the conclusion that Kuminga is a finished product and that he is who he’s shown himself to be — a volume scorer who may have some trouble fitting in winning systems.”
Although Golden State drafted Kuminga early in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, they’re now discovering the 6-foot-7 forward is far from an ideal fit.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
In addition to struggling with his long-range jumper, Kuminga is too raw a playmaker to frighten opponents as the Warriors’ third or fourth scoring option.
An untimely injury combined with an unfavorable midseason acquisition (Jimmy Butler) didn’t help Kuminga’s development during the 2024-25 season.
Still, despite playing a confident brand of basketball in the postseason (he averaged 20.2 points per game on 48.4% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from downtown), Kuminga isn’t an asset the Warriors feel comfortable investing in moving forward.
In a perfect world, Golden State would swap the young pro for a proven veteran whose strengths align perfectly with the 2022 NBA champions’ unique play style.
More NBA: Celtics sign two-time NBA champion ex-Warriors forward to help Jaylen Brown
