Warriors look to keep Jonathan Kuminga on their roster
Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has expressed his desire for Jonathan Kuminga to continue with the team. Dunleavy considers Kuminga’s return to be “very reasonable and viable.”
Kuminga, 22, will become a restricted free agent after a season of ups and downs, where he managed to score 34 points on two occasions, reaching personal records. However, an ankle injury in early January interrupted his good performance.
Jimmy Butler’s arrival to the team, while Kuminga was injured, changed the team’s dynamic. Upon Kuminga’s return, his participation in the rotation decreased, although he shined in the last four games of the second round against Minnesota, due to Stephen Curry’s absence.
We value JK. He had a resilient season. We are very interested in him returning next season, as we need his skills to get to the rim, finish, and get free throws.
Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Dunleavy added that the intention is for Kuminga to remain on the team, but that conversations and negotiations still need to take place to finalize a new contract.
Kuminga could sign with Golden State or another team with cap space, in which case the Warriors would have the right to match the offer. There is also the possibility of a “sign-and-trade” agreement.
Coach Steve Kerr commented that, if Kuminga stays, they will make sure he fits better in the team, especially with the presence of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green. Kerr regretted that they couldn’t experiment with this combination during the season due to Kuminga’s injury and the need to adapt quickly after Butler’s arrival.
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points in 47 games this season. He stood out with 34 points in consecutive games at the end of December. After his injury, his performance decreased, but he showed his potential when Curry was injured in the second round against Minnesota, averaging 24.2 points in the following games.
He had a very good year. The injury really affected him. When he came back, he wasn’t in rhythm. We have to improve on building the roster and on combinations.
Steve Kerr
Both Kerr and Dunleavy believe that the Warriors are close to being a championship team if they manage to keep Curry, Butler, and Green healthy throughout the season. They both agree that it is necessary to improve the roster, either by adding more size, shooting ability, and players who can defend and score.
Dunleavy does not rule out the possibility of acquiring a star player if this brings the Warriors closer to the title, but emphasized that the main focus is to win with Curry, Butler, and Green next season.
