G R E Y wrote:Ballings7 wrote:G R E Y wrote:Kuminga has inconsistency flaws in his game. Don't trust him on D. Neither has Kerr, Spurs family et al. True their vet laden team made it harder for younger players to push their way onto the regular rotation (although Podz and that big whose name I don't recall managed), but JK hasn't. He finally got minutes as an injury replacement last ditch effort.
Poor efficiency, poor 3s, poor FTs, not a passer, his most frequent 2s shot is 3-10ft but only averages 45.5% from there. Other ranges are worse though he takes far more 2s than 3s (74%/26% split). His lone decent 2s % is at 0-3ft.
I like his prototype - 6'8", 210lbs, bulky, athletic, and his age, but he hasn't put it together. He's after his own shot and showing his game rather than playing within a team concept.
#2 can go stare at the middle finger he had engraved in his second ring is as nice as I can be, but Kuminga is only the physical prototype sans game on either end.
I like the idea of the prototype you suggest. I hope we go after the likes of NAW, or if Pels have a fire sale, either of Murphy III or Herb Jones.
Outside chance of KD - still the highest efficiency best scoring option, which comes at a hefty cost.
I respectfully disagree on Kuminga. You're only focusing on the numbers he's had on the Warriors, and the situation there.. it favors to not be the same.
Kuminga has flaws now because he's still in the very 1st half of his career, and just began getting decent playing time last season, and starting to show his game. He was stunted this year on the Warriors.
I'd take a flyer on him to balance out the Spurs roster to be the SF of the future. Those numbers won't mean anything in a couple years, after having direction and consistency to play, develop. Kuminga doesn't have that on the Warriors, and won't as long as Butler and Green are there.
He doesn't fit on the Warriors currently because he isn't a spacing threat (yet) consistently, and he and Butler have similar tendency spots offensively. He has shown the ability to shoot the ball, despite the numbers.
Those flaws favor to go away with committment in an org. like the Spurs where he's going to be given a chance to play, shine, and develop. I just think he could be so good if he gets the time and committment.
I think him having a full year with a clear path into a org. like SA this summer into the Fall, would do wonders for him.
I'd do it in a heartbeat, but I probably would not include Castle in the deal if the Warriors wanted him, and don't think the Spurs would either.
I concede the point that he has not shown nor has has had as much of a shot to show the fullness of his game. Vet laden team or not fully buying in to the team concept or Kerr disfavour, whatever reason, he has played far fewer minutes than, say, Podz or even Moody, this season.
As to consistency, he averaged very similar mpg as NAW and Moody, fewer than Podz and Murphy III and Jones, though he's been in the league longer than Podz, same as Moody, same as Jones, same as Murphy, fewer years than NAW.
Point being, there are comparables from his draft class, in his SF height range, with already better two way games. In fairness, this season was worse than last season, but there are more established two-way options. They may be more costly, however, we are not at the see if we can bring up his game stage but at the who is ready and best around Wemby stage.
I'd have liked JK a couple of years ago when we were in development mode but I'd be surprised if we don't go for an established reliable two-way spacer.
Butler makes his 2s at a better rate than JK. So too do the other players mentioned. Most makes 3s better as well.
From what I've read, we are not including Castle in any deals, let alone a JK one. Like not even in a Giannis trade, though that's more because we wouldn't include both him and the #2 pick if we had the Giannis wants to be here leverage.
We are not including Castle in a KD trade either. Money works better/easier with a Vassell foundation anyway.
I do wonder how much there is to mine of his game, using the comparables listed, and what you think of their fit as alternatives.
We have guys who can drive and create their own shot and take 2s well. We need guys who space the floor, who are good off ball, who defend and shoot 3s well. JK's strengths overlap what we have and weaknesses are where we want to shore up. Would it not make more sense to try to go after players who have already shown themselves to have these strengths?
As always, depends on leverage and therefore cost. It wouldn't surprise me if GSW and JK came to a contract agreement, he played more and Warriors capitalized on a hot streak for a trade for more off ball players.
Out of JK, Murphy, Jones, NAW, I'd put JK last on the list in terms of need/fit. I wanted to like him more because of the prototype, and he has shown some flashes, but the others have more of what we need/Wemby fit.
Getting Herb Jones or Trey Murphy would be great, yes. Either of them would be a more immediate fit as pure 3/D, energy, athletic, and capable offensive gap guys. Murphy being the better option as he's more skilled offensively while still being versatile defensively.
NAW I like a lot, but I don't think he has the overall size to play SF consistently. Team needs to get a legit big wing, SF, hybrid forward to play past the SG spot. Can't keep just getting these 6'5", 6'4" combo guards, and cycling through them. They haven't been underwhelming players, for the most part, but there's already been a cycle of redundancy and refresh of that kind of player again..
Kuminga obviously would be a different path then TM3 or Jones, and he would complicate things in the short term, make it less certain in terms of "consistency" and his shooting.. but I think it'd be very much worth it in the long run past this season. He's shown more than just "some flashes", more like a ton of flashes : ), going back to 2023. Kuminga just put up 24 PPG in 4 playoff games as a starter in the 2nd round, from his standpoint and after not playing too much prior to that. That's impressive to me, and he stepped up well.
I don't think the Spurs are going to be able in a position to contend for the title for another couple seasons anyway. The supporting cast has to be there, and Kuminga isn't going to disrupt or delay that from happening; if anything it would force focus to the bench only, and not really have to worry about anything but the big forward spot (PF), and really just go get anyone big enough to play there who can shoot, rebound, defend (if not Sochan).
Listening to the media noise of "win now or Wemby leaves" is fools gold, and not where the Spurs are at. The media are just hyping up Wemby to create storylines. Wemby's going into just his 3rd season and doesn't have a supporting cast, let along hasn't made the playoffs -- Kuminga would become part of that, and would be part of that fit, and win now because of the change in situation for Kuminga.
I personally would rather see the Spurs develop the team another year to get into playoff mode, see "how good" they can be.. obviously all that would change if KD or Giannis comes in. I think it could create a weird situation of over-expectations too soon, when Wemby may not even be "there" yet, and that would have to be accepted by everyone including him, which I think he would be able to do.. but the org. internally would have to do good work to funnel out the noise.
Kuminga can come in and help right away by getting the dedicated situation he does not yet have in Golden State and is a question mark what that is going to be with Butler and Green there; but also I believe would be able to fit into a role similar to what TMIII or Herb Jones would be, but with even better offensive skill.
I look at Kuminga as playing the Kawhi role in 2013-2015, before Kawhi broke out in 2015-2016 as a legit star (then went up another level after that to MVP candidate).. the transition + talent + physical tools are there for a similar situation. Obviously Kuminga is not the same jumpshooter yet as Kawhi, but he's shown the capability to be a threat out to 3P and mid-range, several times already.
Its not like Kuminga's going to come in and demand the ball every game, and hog it, because that's not how the Spurs would use Kuminga until he develops into his role at SF, and shows what he can do..
Agree to disagree on Kuminga, though. : )
