JK: Who's Fault Is it?

[Romulus]

We all know JK has talent. It seems obvious enough watching him now he's going to be a good player for someone other than the Warriors. So, who do you blame the most for JK's lack of development while being a Warrior, JK himself or Steve Kerr, the coach?

[Onus]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

[Romulus]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

JK has developed? You're saying that with a straight face? You realize he's in year 4? You realize he wouldn't have gotten ANY minutes in this series if Curry hadn't gotten hurt?

You also realize JK went to the media and expressed his frustration with his development and what exactly the Warriors were wanting him to do?

JK with a different coach and a different organization will very likely be a very good NBA player. I'm rooting for Kuminga and for his sake actually hope he gets a sign and trade elsewhere. He deserves a chance with a different coach.

[TB]

Ehhhh probably a combination of things.

I dont think Kuminga is as good as his biggest supporters or media thinks.

I also think being in a motion offense that runs the least amount of pick and rolls and iso’s doesn’t help Kuminga at all.

Getting drafted to a team with Draymond and no stretch bigs was probably the biggest obstacle for Kuminga’s path to a huge role by year 4.

Hard to blame Kuminga or Kerr too much considering those facts. But I dont think Kuminga has had the best mentality, and I don’t think Kerr has done well to have a 2nd unit pick and roll system with him. So they can share some blame with the front office getting most of it.

[vvoland]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

Kerr seems fine playing TJD with butler and dray but I agree, JK needs to shoot in the mid-to-high 30s from 3 for him to be successful with this roster. Fortunately, for him, he'll be putting up 25+ in BKN or UTA, instead.

The moody and JK value management I put squarely on Kerr. Over 4 years, he had a ton of opportunities to play both and, almost every time, he chose to go with other players (lamb, jerome, tjd, loon, wigs, klay, cp3, podz, gui, belli, ddv, jp3, etc.). Many of those guys were transient players that we all knew were not going to stick around (either because we couldn't afford them, they were bad, or both). Some decisions were right in the short term, some weren't, but almost all of them were wrong in the long term. I get that Kerr get paid to win games, primarily. The reason he's one of the highest paid coaches in the league is because he's supposed to help them bridge the gap between the curry core and their recent draft picks. He's failed very, very poorly on that front.

I'm more confused about JK than moody since I'm higher on JK's talent and his peaks look tantalizing. But the same thing goes for Moody, almost exactly. Watching JK slice through the Minny defense the last 3 games, after being frozen out of the previous 10, even when we had monster cold spells against LAC, Hou, and Minny really makes me wonder if Kerr is just too stubborn to adapt. The fact he's doing it without any spacing, often with no Hield or Butler on the court, is all the more remarkable. Minny has good on-ball defenders, real length at the rim, and good strength on the perimeter. None of that seems to be even slowing JK down. He's putting bodies in the basket and playing with more force than the rest of the team put together.

There's a real player in JK - one that can shoot FTs and 3s, attack the rim, rebound, defend (mostly on ball though he had some great rotations to the rim in game 3), and take over games. He can't do it consistently, yet, but he's 22 and, for Kerr, that's what the money is for!

[Onus]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

JK has developed? You're saying that with a straight face? You realize he's in year 4? You realize he wouldn't have gotten ANY minutes in this series if Curry hadn't gotten hurt?

You also realize JK went to the media and expressed his frustration with his development and what exactly the Warriors were wanting him to do?

JK with a different coach and a different organization will very likely be a very good NBA player. I'm rooting for Kuminga and for his sake actually hope he gets a sign and trade elsewhere. He deserves a chance with a different coach.

Yes I think JK would've gotten minutes in this series if Steph didn't get hurt.

Yes because his role changes constantly. Every year we try to put more on JK's plate at the start of the year, he's unable to handle the bigger role so we start to pare it down, he adjusts and gets better at a reduced role. He's just inconsistent because he's 22 which leads to a higher variance, which you don't really want when you're trying to win games consistently unless you're down and have no other option.

Different team and different coach, he'd probably be similar to jalen green where he shows flashes but isn't worth whatever extension he got. Hell he's shown flashes here, he's just inconsistent. The biggest thing is his defensive game plan discipline and breaking the offense to score. These are mental issues which can be fixed.

I really don't know why people are saying JK is gone next year. Lacob has shown no willingness to trade him. He's a RFA with limited teams with cap space. Like he's going to be on this team next year.

[Onus]

Ehhhh probably a combination of things.

I dont think Kuminga is as good as his biggest supporters or media thinks.

I also think being in a motion offense that runs the least amount of pick and rolls and iso’s doesn’t help Kuminga at all.

Getting drafted to a team with Draymond and no stretch bigs was probably the biggest obstacle for Kuminga’s path to a huge role by year 4.

Hard to blame Kuminga or Kerr too much considering those facts. But I dont think Kuminga has had the best mentality, and I don’t think Kerr has done well to have a 2nd unit pick and roll system with him. So they can share some blame with the front office getting most of it.

Yea put a front office or ownership option in the poll and I would choose that with a resounding yes

[Onus]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

Kerr seems fine playing TJD with butler and dray but I agree, JK needs to shoot in the mid-to-high 30s from 3 for him to be successful with this roster. Fortunately, for him, he'll be putting up 25+ in BKN or UTA, instead.

The moody and JK value management I put squarely on Kerr. Over 4 years, he had a ton of opportunities to play both and, almost every time, he chose to go with other players (lamb, jerome, tjd, loon, wigs, klay, cp3, podz, gui, belli, ddv, jp3, etc.). Many of those guys were transient players that we all knew were not going to stick around (either because we couldn't afford them, they were bad, or both). Some decisions were right in the short term, some weren't, but almost all of them were wrong in the long term. I get that Kerr get paid to win games, primarily. The reason he's one of the highest paid coaches in the league is because he's supposed to help them bridge the gap between the curry core and their recent draft picks. He's failed very, very poorly on that front.

I'm more confused about JK than moody since I'm higher on JK's talent and his peaks look tantalizing. But the same thing goes for Moody, almost exactly. Watching JK slice through the Minny defense the last 3 games, after being frozen out of the previous 10, even when we had monster cold spells against LAC, Hou, and Minny really makes me wonder if Kerr is just too stubborn to adapt. The fact he's doing it without any spacing, often with no Hield or Butler on the court, is all the more remarkable. Minny has good on-ball defenders, real length at the rim, and good strength on the perimeter. None of that seems to be even slowing JK down. He's putting bodies in the basket and playing with more force than the rest of the team put together.

There's a real player in JK - one that can shoot FTs and 3s, attack the rim, rebound, defend (mostly on ball though he had some great rotations to the rim in game 3), and take over games. He can't do it consistently, yet, but he's 22 and, for Kerr, that's what the money is for!

Sounds like you're saying that JK did develop

[DAWill1128]

Kuminga even if he has turned the corner as a player and Kerr has figured out how to use him is gone.

The leading scorer on the team was the last guy on the bench last week.

Kuminga will walk, I cannot imagine him wanting to play out the possibility of being the last guy on the bench again.

Kuminga could walk. If you are able to sign and trade who or what can you get?

The team needs young athletic guys who can get downhill with an apetite to score relentlessly. Unfortunately for us that is Poole who is gone and Kuminga who may walk.

[TB]

It’s probably lining up for a sign and trade for Vucevic without even getting their draft pick. Which is awful value for a lotto pick even if it probably has us at least able to manage playing jimmy/dray together next year with Vuc/Post always at the 5 to stretch the floor.

[Twinkie defense]

Kuminga is still a bad fit for this team, which needs players to make quick decisions, move without the ball, pass, catch and shoot. And also play defense within a team concept. That's the scheme that has won the Warriors four rings and as long as Steph Curry is on this team you're not going to restructure the schemes to fit Jonathan Kuminga.

He'll be better on a team where he can hold the ball and iso, and not have to make quick decisions.

[Twinkie defense]

Kuminga will probably go to a team next season, play a lot, put up empty stats for the casual fans, and lose a lot of games. Just like Jordan Poole.

[Onus]

It’s probably lining up for a sign and trade for Vucevic without even getting their draft pick. Which is awful value for a lotto pick even if it probably has us at least able to manage playing jimmy/dray together next year with Vuc/Post always at the 5 to stretch the floor.

Please do not put in the ether that we're getting Vuc.

[vvoland]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

Kerr seems fine playing TJD with butler and dray but I agree, JK needs to shoot in the mid-to-high 30s from 3 for him to be successful with this roster. Fortunately, for him, he'll be putting up 25+ in BKN or UTA, instead.

The moody and JK value management I put squarely on Kerr. Over 4 years, he had a ton of opportunities to play both and, almost every time, he chose to go with other players (lamb, jerome, tjd, loon, wigs, klay, cp3, podz, gui, belli, ddv, jp3, etc.). Many of those guys were transient players that we all knew were not going to stick around (either because we couldn't afford them, they were bad, or both). Some decisions were right in the short term, some weren't, but almost all of them were wrong in the long term. I get that Kerr get paid to win games, primarily. The reason he's one of the highest paid coaches in the league is because he's supposed to help them bridge the gap between the curry core and their recent draft picks. He's failed very, very poorly on that front.

I'm more confused about JK than moody since I'm higher on JK's talent and his peaks look tantalizing. But the same thing goes for Moody, almost exactly. Watching JK slice through the Minny defense the last 3 games, after being frozen out of the previous 10, even when we had monster cold spells against LAC, Hou, and Minny really makes me wonder if Kerr is just too stubborn to adapt. The fact he's doing it without any spacing, often with no Hield or Butler on the court, is all the more remarkable. Minny has good on-ball defenders, real length at the rim, and good strength on the perimeter. None of that seems to be even slowing JK down. He's putting bodies in the basket and playing with more force than the rest of the team put together.

There's a real player in JK - one that can shoot FTs and 3s, attack the rim, rebound, defend (mostly on ball though he had some great rotations to the rim in game 3), and take over games. He can't do it consistently, yet, but he's 22 and, for Kerr, that's what the money is for!

Sounds like you're saying that JK did develop

You're confusing me with Romulus. I do think JK developed and could have developed much more during the 2 years we had no shot at at title.

[vvoland]

JK has developed. He just got hurt and was out for 2 months and couldn't get back up to speed in the last 14 games when we were trying to win games to avoid the play in.

If JK wants to be more than a 6th man next year he's going to need to improve his 3 point shot. It'll be incredibly hard to play JB, Dray, and JK together since they are all unwilling or unable to make 3s.

JK has developed? You're saying that with a straight face? You realize he's in year 4? You realize he wouldn't have gotten ANY minutes in this series if Curry hadn't gotten hurt?

You also realize JK went to the media and expressed his frustration with his development and what exactly the Warriors were wanting him to do?

JK with a different coach and a different organization will very likely be a very good NBA player. I'm rooting for Kuminga and for his sake actually hope he gets a sign and trade elsewhere. He deserves a chance with a different coach.

Yes I think JK would've gotten minutes in this series if Steph didn't get hurt.

Yes because his role changes constantly. Every year we try to put more on JK's plate at the start of the year, he's unable to handle the bigger role so we start to pare it down, he adjusts and gets better at a reduced role. He's just inconsistent because he's 22 which leads to a higher variance, which you don't really want when you're trying to win games consistently unless you're down and have no other option.

Different team and different coach, he'd probably be similar to jalen green where he shows flashes but isn't worth whatever extension he got. Hell he's shown flashes here, he's just inconsistent. The biggest thing is his defensive game plan discipline and breaking the offense to score. These are mental issues which can be fixed.

I really don't know why people are saying JK is gone next year. Lacob has shown no willingness to trade him. He's a RFA with limited teams with cap space. Like he's going to be on this team next year.

I don't see any scenario where he's back outside the QO. I don't think he's signing a small offer sheet as a RFA from BK or whomever (by 'small' i mean 4/80 or less). At that point, I think he'll take the QO and beg the FO to trade him to a team his agent finds (BKN or Uta seem like prime candidates). Not saying they'll acquiesce but while I commend JK for not going full-spreewell on Kerr, I don't want to tempt fate by making him be here one more year.

[TB]

It’s probably lining up for a sign and trade for Vucevic without even getting their draft pick. Which is awful value for a lotto pick even if it probably has us at least able to manage playing jimmy/dray together next year with Vuc/Post always at the 5 to stretch the floor.

Please do not put in the ether that we're getting Vuc.

i’m not happy about it… it just feels like thats what is going to happen. I’d do it if we got their 12th pick, even if it means taking on Pat’s contract instead of Vuc expiring.

[vvoland]

It’s probably lining up for a sign and trade for Vucevic without even getting their draft pick. Which is awful value for a lotto pick even if it probably has us at least able to manage playing jimmy/dray together next year with Vuc/Post always at the 5 to stretch the floor.

Please do not put in the ether that we're getting Vuc.

i’m not happy about it… it just feels like thats what is going to happen. I’d do it if we got their 12th pick, even if it means taking on Pat’s contract instead of Vuc expiring.

How does the pick help us win a title in the next two years? I get trading JK because we can't wait for him to 'get it' and we need help now. Who do we get at 12 that does that?

[AirP.]

Do any of you really think Kerr hasn't told Kuminga what he needs to do to get on the court? I have to think Kuminga didn't want to change his way of playing, there are a lot of high picks that refuse to change because they want to play a certain way in their career because it could affect their money. You have Curry, the offense needs to be about this generational scorer yet when Kuminga's on the court he's more about himself than this generational scorer.

It can be that Kuminga is talented but he needs to play a certain way and if this is true it's on the FO not to know this or not to move him for the right type of player, then again there's the option of saying screw it and force the coach to say screw winning, develop this player but personally, I don't see enough talent to do that in Kuminga. He can be a scorer but it's probably not a guy you can have as a top 3 salary on your roster and compete for a championship.

Basically, it's partially on Kuminga for not conforming and also on the FO not to recognize this and get the most out of that asset by trading him. Now if they decided to trade him in the last year, you're probably getting more for him if you S&T him vs trading him at his low rookie salary (outside of getting a draft asset or 2 back for him). I do know Miami didn't want him in the Butler trade because they're trying to clear the books for 2026, not add to them.

[vvoland]

Do any of you really think Kerr hasn't told Kuminga what he needs to do to get on the court? I have to think Kuminga didn't want to change his way of playing, there are a lot of high picks that refuse to change because they want to play a certain way in their career because it could affect their money. You have Curry, the offense needs to be about this generational scorer yet when Kuminga's on the court he's more about himself than this generational scorer.

It can be that Kuminga is talented but he needs to play a certain way and if this is true it's on the FO not to know this or not to move him for the right type of player, then again there's the option of saying screw it and force the coach to say screw winning, develop this player but personally, I don't see enough talent to do that in Kuminga. He can be a scorer but it's probably not a guy you can have as a top 3 salary on your roster and compete for a championship.

Basically, it's partially on Kuminga for not conforming and also on the FO not to recognize this and get the most out of that asset by trading him. Now if they decided to trade him in the last year, you're probably getting more for him if you S&T him vs trading him at his low rookie salary (outside of getting a draft asset or 2 back for him). I do know Miami didn't want him in the Butler trade because they're trying to clear the books for 2026, not add to them.

I've seen JK play multiple roles during his 4 years. Before he got hurt this season, he was starting to excel in the GP2 role. When given real room to make mistakes, he excelled in the Wigs role as a 20 year old and helped get us to the 6 seed while wigs was away. For long stretches of last year he went from starting and being the 2nd scoring option to being the primary scorer off the bench. He's been asked to defend everyone from 1-4 and, generally, has been pretty good on-ball. He's been 18-22 in those 4 years, after leaving the dumpster fire that was the g-league ignite. He has been frozen out in favor of players like Gui Santos and Jeremy Lamb.

The assumption that he refuses to change his style of play doesn't hold up to the various ways he's played for this team over 4 years. He doesn't always succeed but there's been very little to think he's just blowing steve off. Does he have an unnatural love for the mid-range? Yes, but he's gotten much better at passing up that shot. Does he look too much at the rim while driving? Sure, but if I could put McDaniels in the basket before delivering the facial, i might look to finish more than pass, as well. He's also 22 and few players are able to make good decisions, consistently, at that age. I don't think we have the time to wait for him to get there on this own but Kerr could/should have done more to accelerate that process.

He's not a perfect player, by any means, and it's a super awkward fit with Steph. But THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR! Steve gets paid like the best and has delivered as such, in most areas. This is not one of them.

[AirP.]

Do any of you really think Kerr hasn't told Kuminga what he needs to do to get on the court? I have to think Kuminga didn't want to change his way of playing, there are a lot of high picks that refuse to change because they want to play a certain way in their career because it could affect their money. You have Curry, the offense needs to be about this generational scorer yet when Kuminga's on the court he's more about himself than this generational scorer.

It can be that Kuminga is talented but he needs to play a certain way and if this is true it's on the FO not to know this or not to move him for the right type of player, then again there's the option of saying screw it and force the coach to say screw winning, develop this player but personally, I don't see enough talent to do that in Kuminga. He can be a scorer but it's probably not a guy you can have as a top 3 salary on your roster and compete for a championship.

Basically, it's partially on Kuminga for not conforming and also on the FO not to recognize this and get the most out of that asset by trading him. Now if they decided to trade him in the last year, you're probably getting more for him if you S&T him vs trading him at his low rookie salary (outside of getting a draft asset or 2 back for him). I do know Miami didn't want him in the Butler trade because they're trying to clear the books for 2026, not add to them.

I've seen JK play multiple roles during his 4 years. Before he got hurt this season, he was starting to excel in the GP2 role. When given real room to make mistakes, he excelled in the Wigs role as a 20 year old and helped get us to the 6 seed while wigs was away. For long stretches of last year he went from starting and being the 2nd scoring option to being the primary scorer off the bench. He's been asked to defend everyone from 1-4 and, generally, has been pretty good on-ball. He's been 18-22 in those 4 years, after leaving the dumpster fire that was the g-league ignite. He has been frozen out in favor of players like Gui Santos and Jeremy Lamb.

The assumption that he refuses to change his style of play doesn't hold up to the various ways he's played for this team over 4 years. He doesn't always succeed but there's been very little to think he's just blowing steve off. Does he have an unnatural love for the mid-range? Yes, but he's gotten much better at passing up that shot. Does he look too much at the rim while driving? Sure, but if I could put McDaniels in the basket before delivering the facial, i might look to finish more than pass, as well. He's also 22 and few players are able to make good decisions, consistently, at that age. I don't think we have the time to wait for him to get there on this own but Kerr could/should have done more to accelerate that process.

He's not a perfect player, by any means, and it's a super awkward fit with Steph. But THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR! Steve gets paid like the best and has delivered as such, in most areas. This is not one of them.

You can't make a square peg fit a round hole. Phoenix has gone through multiple coaches trying to get KD, Booker and Beal to work but it just doesn't. Basically, there needs to be a direction with the team, I believe in systems unless you get an incredible talent that it makes sense to ditch the old system for a new system.

You say Kuminga has played differently over the years but that doesn't mean his tendencies didn't cause issues, the guy gets tunnel vision unless you hand him the ball early in the shot clock making him pass the ball (which seems questionable the weeks I watched). Watching NBA basketball all my life I know one thing that seems true about 99% of the time is that really good talent forces coaches to play them throughout the years, about the only one that it didn't really work that way was Tracey McGrady in Toronto. I'd almost say Steve Nash but his game changed/evolved in Phoenix.

It just seems very odd how Kuminga could see how the team excelled with Butler while Kuminga was out and yet he gets back and just goes back to tunnel vision. Kuminga to me looks like a 20+ ppg scorer for a bad team.

One bright side with Kuminga is that being in the playoffs hasn't affected him where it has for Podz and Moody. GS could retain him, run him as the starting PF or scoring 6th man next year and hope he figures it out in a year or 2. If it were me, if I could get decent value for him in a S&T I would probably go that route.