Jonathan Kuminga had broken back into the Warriors’ rotation by default.
But on Monday night, things might look different.
Jimmy Butler is making his return for Golden State after being hurt early in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Rockets. He missed Game 3 entirely.
With Butler absent and then out, Kuminga got double-digit minutes two games in a row.
With Butler back, don’t be surprised to see Kuminga planted on the bench.
In the crucial final game of the regular season, and then in Game 1 against the Rockets, Kuminga didn’t play a single second.
Butler played nearly all the minutes in both games.
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Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said he doesn’t like lineups with Kuminga, Butler and Draymond Green on the floor all at once. They aren’t the best for spacing the floor around Stephen Curry.
Kuminga has also struggled while on the floor in this series, so he hasn’t exactly earned himself a long leash.
Maybe because Kuminga is a little more in game rhythm, and because the Warriors might want to be a bit careful with Butler’s minutes, Kuminga could see the floor a bit.
But any major contributions from the talented 22-year old who is deeply involved in all of the Internet’s trade rumors are probably not to be expected.
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