Why the Warriors should and will re-sign Kuminga

[GQ Hot Dog]

If the off-season moves are to sign Horford to start at center and one or more of Simmons, Melton, Seth Curry or Malcolm Brogdon, the FO should and will come to a multiyear agreement with Kuminga.

The roster will look something like:

Curry(37)/FA
Hield(32)/Podz(22)/Richard(22)
Butler(36)/Moody(23)/Santos(23)
Draymond(35)/Kuminga(22)/Toohey(21)
Horford(39)/Post(25)/TJD(25)

Every starter on the wrong side of 30. Very little veteran bench rotation players other than those that might still be signed.

Even if the team gets halfway through the season healthy, I don't think they'll be better than the back half of the playoff picture. I don't think they'll be better than OKC, Denver, Houston or the TWolves, unless major injuries hit. They'll likely be struggling among LAC, LAL, Mavs and maybe the Spurs. That's pretty close to a best case scenario.

A potentially more likely scenario is that one or more of the Warriors aged starters misses significant time and they find themselves needing a big second half to get into the playoff picture.

If the first scenario comes to pass, do the Warriors trade pieces of their young bench and likely a bunch of draft picks to make an all-in move on a player or players? With a team full of outright old and declining players in crucial roles, it seems risky. If they make a big move only to arrive to the postseason with all those old players worn out and suffering from various injuries, they won't be going far.

If the second scenario comes to pass, the Warriors would be crazy to make an all-in move. The only rational step would be to sell off Butler at the very least and probably Draymond as well. If Curry asks to be traded, his wishes must also be accommodated. Although, I don't think he'd do that. Then you elevate the youngsters to the starting lineup, with Kuminga being the main beneficiary, and pitch Curry on making another run in 26-27 with far lower salary obligations and the far greater roster flexibility that comes with it(provided Curry didn't demand out).

TLDR: If ~40 games in the team isn't confidently charging toward a deep playoff run, the only rational move would be to liquidate anyone over 30 other than Curry and firmly install Kuminga as Curry's copilot.

And then tell Kerr to either deal with it or enjoy retirement.

[whatisacenter]

I don't think JK wants to stay with the Warriors because if he did, and they wanted him back, they would have worked out an extension.

If I were advising JK, I would have him take out an insurance policy and play on the QO so he can be a free agent next summer.

[GQ Hot Dog]

I don't think JK wants to stay with the Warriors because if he did, and they wanted him back, they would have worked out an extension.

If I were advising JK, I would have him take out an insurance policy and play on the QO so he can be a free agent next summer.

I think JK legitimately enjoys playing with the org, legitimately enjoys Curry, Dray, etc.

I just think he wants a chance to be a focal point of the offense(he's said exactly this publicly) and in my scenario that's what he gets the chance to be once our aged starters prove they can't compete for a championship.

If the FO, Kerr and Curry were all to sign off on Kuminga being handed the keys, Kuminga would be a happy Warrior.

[statsman]

I don't think JK wants to stay with the Warriors because if he did, and they wanted him back, they would have worked out an extension.

If I were advising JK, I would have him take out an insurance policy and play on the QO so he can be a free agent next summer.

I would agree that JK doesn't want to stay. The league knows this too. If they could get Kuminga for under $20M for the first year, they might be interested. But Kuminga and his agent are advertising a bloated value, and the Warriors are asking for a lot in return to do a S&T.

I have to believe some in the league would be delighted to watch Lacob squirm having to dealing with Kuminga for part or all of the upcoming season. He also has a coach, who would prefer having Kuminga moved, who would have to deal with a roster that included him.

[Onus]

The advice to play on the qo would be akin to his current advisors. Just throwing money away.

From thinking he was going to get 35M a year to possibly 20M a year. Yea that’s going to take some time to process. I would tell my agent to leave no stone unturned to get as close to 35M a year as well. It does nothing for jk to sign now since the warriors aren’t putting any pressure on him to sign now. It’s not like they’re going to rescind their offer.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I still believe the best path to both parties is to extend and then trade at the deadline.

Best case, we get some assets.
Worst case, we attach assets.

I dont think this is reconcilable. Kerr, steph, etc.. want him to play a certain way. Jk and his team want to play a different way. It's been 4 years and nothing has changed.

[Onus]

I still believe the best path to both parties is to extend and then trade at the deadline.

Best case, we get some assets.
Worst case, we attach assets.

I dont think this is reconcilable. Kerr, steph, etc.. want him to play a certain way. Jk and his team want to play a different way. It's been 4 years and nothing has changed.

For like a 5 game stretch this year it was changed. Jk actually got off the ball and thrived. Then he got hurt.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I still believe the best path to both parties is to extend and then trade at the deadline.

Best case, we get some assets.
Worst case, we attach assets.

I dont think this is reconcilable. Kerr, steph, etc.. want him to play a certain way. Jk and his team want to play a different way. It's been 4 years and nothing has changed.

For like a 5 game stretch this year it was changed. Jk actually got off the ball and thrived. Then he got hurt.

It's also when steph and wiggins were playing a specific role. With jimmy, there's a whole lot of overlap.

[Onus]

I still believe the best path to both parties is to extend and then trade at the deadline.

Best case, we get some assets.
Worst case, we attach assets.

I dont think this is reconcilable. Kerr, steph, etc.. want him to play a certain way. Jk and his team want to play a different way. It's been 4 years and nothing has changed.

For like a 5 game stretch this year it was changed. Jk actually got off the ball and thrived. Then he got hurt.

It's also when steph and wiggins were playing a specific role. With jimmy, there's a whole lot of overlap.

Sure but jk wants to play like Jimmy. What better way to learn how to play like Jimmy than playing with Jimmy?

[GQ Hot Dog]

For like a 5 game stretch this year it was changed. Jk actually got off the ball and thrived. Then he got hurt.

It's also when steph and wiggins were playing a specific role. With jimmy, there's a whole lot of overlap.

Sure but jk wants to play like Jimmy. What better way to learn how to play like Jimmy than playing with Jimmy?

Not to mention, and I'm sorry to say it, but Jimmy is 50% cooked. Maybe 40%, but definitely medium rare. At this point, he's a top tier role player that can give you 20 points sometimes, but can't be counted on as a 20ppg scorer.

If this starting squad of 30+ year olds isn't cooking ~40 games in, blow it up because there's no point in running it back another year from now.

[Crazy-Canuck]

It's also when steph and wiggins were playing a specific role. With jimmy, there's a whole lot of overlap.

Sure but jk wants to play like Jimmy. What better way to learn how to play like Jimmy than playing with Jimmy?

Not to mention, and I'm sorry to say it, but Jimmy is 50% cooked. Maybe 40%, but definitely medium rare. At this point, he's a top tier role player that can give you 20 points sometimes, but can't be counted on as a 20ppg scorer.

If this starting squad of 30+ year olds isn't cooking ~40 games in, blow it up because there's no point in running it back another year from now.

Mdj was sold a 36 yr old pf instead of the 32 yr old SF they were expecting.

[Romulus]

The real question right now is when will this be resolved, one way or the other? The Warriors have decided they can't/won't make any other moves until this is settled, so when are they going to figure this out? This is just pathetic.

[vvoland]

Sure but jk wants to play like Jimmy. What better way to learn how to play like Jimmy than playing with Jimmy?

Not to mention, and I'm sorry to say it, but Jimmy is 50% cooked. Maybe 40%, but definitely medium rare. At this point, he's a top tier role player that can give you 20 points sometimes, but can't be counted on as a 20ppg scorer.

If this starting squad of 30+ year olds isn't cooking ~40 games in, blow it up because there's no point in running it back another year from now.

Mdj was sold a 36 yr old pf instead of the 32 yr old SF they were expecting.

Jimmy was great the entire time he was here, right up until he hurt his ass. For those that want the points, specifically, check the games that really mattered prior to the injury. He's not cooked, done, or whatever. He was hurt and may get hurt, again. When healthy, he's still a monster, on both ends.

[GQ Hot Dog]

The real question right now is when will this be resolved, one way or the other? The Warriors have decided they can't/won't make any other moves until this is settled, so when are they going to figure this out? This is just pathetic.

It's entirely up to Kuminga, Giddey, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes. The market is telling them what they're worth, but none of them have so far been willing to accept it and there's no team willing/able to step in to make it a bidding war.

Eventually, one of those guys will come to an agreement and then the rest will negotiate contracts relative to that first guy's deal. Until then, all their respective teams have no choice but to wait.

[statsman]

Jimmy was great the entire time he was here, right up until he hurt his ass. For those that want the points, specifically, check the games that really mattered prior to the injury. He's not cooked, done, or whatever. He was hurt and may get hurt, again. When healthy, he's still a monster, on both ends.

Butler got more out of the non-stars on the Warriors than Draymond did, and it wasn't even close. There were several games I was expecting the Warriors to lose that they won because Butler was a difference maker.

[statsman]

The real question right now is when will this be resolved, one way or the other? The Warriors have decided they can't/won't make any other moves until this is settled, so when are they going to figure this out? This is just pathetic.

It's entirely up to Kuminga, Giddey, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes. The market is telling them what they're worth, but none of them have so far been willing to accept it and there's no team willing/able to step in to make it a bidding war.

Eventually, one of those guys will come to an agreement and then the rest will negotiate contracts relative to that first guy's deal. Until then, all their respective teams have no choice but to wait.

The market really didn't decide. The latest CBA (2023) pretty much has its fingerprints all over this offseason, with teams still trying to adjust to the dual aprons/hard caps and the restrictions they enforce.

Only one team really had cap space for a RFA offer (Nets) before the draft, but some of that disappeared on draft night #1 when they selected FIVE first round draft picks and the cap holds they require.

This was perhaps the worst offseason to be a restricted free agent. If 4-6 teams had cap space after July 1, some/most of the players on your list would have had offers.

It is also possible the latest CBA may have ruined restricted free agency for players wanting to play for another team for a decent contract. Not sure how they correct that. Maybe when enough high-salary players retire (LeBron, Curry, Durant, Butler, PG13, ...), the market will open up.

[GQ Hot Dog]

The real question right now is when will this be resolved, one way or the other? The Warriors have decided they can't/won't make any other moves until this is settled, so when are they going to figure this out? This is just pathetic.

It's entirely up to Kuminga, Giddey, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes. The market is telling them what they're worth, but none of them have so far been willing to accept it and there's no team willing/able to step in to make it a bidding war.

Eventually, one of those guys will come to an agreement and then the rest will negotiate contracts relative to that first guy's deal. Until then, all their respective teams have no choice but to wait.

The market really didn't decide. The latest CBA (2023) pretty much has its fingerprints all over this offseason, with teams still trying to adjust to the dual aprons/hard caps and the restrictions they enforce.

Only one team really had cap space for a RFA offer (Nets) before the draft, but some of that disappeared on draft night #1 when they selected FIVE first round draft picks and the cap holds they require.

This was perhaps the worst offseason to be a restricted free agent. If 4-6 teams had cap space after July 1, some/most of the players on your list would have had offers.

It is also possible the latest CBA may have ruined restricted free agency for players wanting to play for another team for a decent contract. Not sure how they correct that. Maybe when enough high-salary players retire (LeBron, Curry, Durant, Butler, PG13, ...), the market will open up.

I understand and agree with what you're saying, but the market is what it is at the time that it is, even if it isn't placing a fair dollar value on a player relative to his peers.

[ChuckDurn]

Taking them out of order…..

They will re-sign Kuminga, because sooner or later it becomes evident that Kuminga’s not going to get an offer from somebody else, including the potential for a sign-and-trade, that will be higher than what the Warriors would just match, and/or would have the signing team be willing to part with the assets the Warriors would want in order to participate. And that will lead to him coming back to work with the Warriors on a mutually acceptable deal.

But thinking about it….. they absolutely should re-sign him (to a deal that’s probably around $18M starting salary). And he should want to come back, too.

Will he be the featured offensive guy for 82 games? No.

But if the Warriors replace Looney and Payton (2 non-shooters) on the roster with Horford and Melton (2 shooters), that’s massive from a spacing perspective.

In a perfect world, Kuminga would be a slasher, an opportunistic scorer. But that’s not who he is. In absence of that, when he gets the ball, he wants to drive. So being on the court with 2 or 3 non-shooters, as was frequently the case last year, he’s going to be hampered. Now, the only time he’ll be on the court with 2 non-shooters is when he’s with both Butler and Draymond.

Through injury or rest, it’s likely that both Butler and Draymond are going to miss 15-20 games…… so that’s probably 30+ games where Kuminga’s sharing the court with only one of them.

And even when all 3 are healthy / playing in a game, their minutes can be managed to not overlap too much. Ideally Draymond and Butler only play about 30 minutes / game in the regular season, Kuminga probably gets about that as well. Pretty manageable to not have them “collide” too much.

And going back to the earlier point - Kuminga should be a lot more efficient, because there will be more space on the court. Featuring him on offense more (particularly when Curry isn’t on the court) is going to be better than it has been with the spacing-limited line-ups he’s had to play with.

What better way to show what you have than to be aided by the spacing of the world’s greatest shooter, surrounded by other shooters?

(Okay, don’t burst my bubble. But I actually think we’ll see a better team construction that will work for Kuminga and everybody else this year, and everybody will benefit - if they can put their egos aside.)

[EvanZ]

The real question right now is when will this be resolved, one way or the other? The Warriors have decided they can't/won't make any other moves until this is settled, so when are they going to figure this out? This is just pathetic.

It's entirely up to Kuminga, Giddey, Cam Thomas and Quentin Grimes. The market is telling them what they're worth, but none of them have so far been willing to accept it and there's no team willing/able to step in to make it a bidding war.

Eventually, one of those guys will come to an agreement and then the rest will negotiate contracts relative to that first guy's deal. Until then, all their respective teams have no choice but to wait.

The market really didn't decide. The latest CBA (2023) pretty much has its fingerprints all over this offseason, with teams still trying to adjust to the dual aprons/hard caps and the restrictions they enforce.

Only one team really had cap space for a RFA offer (Nets) before the draft, but some of that disappeared on draft night #1 when they selected FIVE first round draft picks and the cap holds they require.

This was perhaps the worst offseason to be a restricted free agent. If 4-6 teams had cap space after July 1, some/most of the players on your list would have had offers.

It is also possible the latest CBA may have ruined restricted free agency for players wanting to play for another team for a decent contract. Not sure how they correct that. Maybe when enough high-salary players retire (LeBron, Curry, Durant, Butler, PG13, ...), the market will open up.

I mean that's the market. That literally is the market. My brother in Christ you are literally describing the rules of hte game which is how the market is operated.

[bay2hk]

Best case scenario is JK signs the QO of $8m and play another year for us. We can wait until next offseason to sign and trade him. If he does well, then we may be able to get some assets. If not, then he can let him go. This will also allow us to use the full NTMLE this offseason or during the offseason for buyout candidates that make more than the NTMLE.