Almost every team around the league is making moves. The Thunder’s victory introduced a new blueprint and also a new target for the rest of the league. But amidst one of the most happening offseasons, the Bay has been silent. There have only been rumors thus far, but Mike Dunleavy has yet to take any action. What’s causing the holdup, you might wonder? A problem that the Golden State Warriors have been battling for the past few seasons.
Jonathan Kuminga isn’t under contract anymore. However, as a restricted free agent, the Warriors get the opportunity to match any offer sheet teams send out for him. So far, there hasn’t been any offer, and it is because teams can’t be certain about the potential residing within Kuminga.
He is an explosive athlete who balled out as a primary scorer for Steve Kerr when Curry missed games against the Timberwolves. Yet after the season, the Warriors’ HC wasn’t confident in letting JK have a place in the starting lineup. But what else can Kuminga do to win his trust?
Locked on Warriors’ Charlie Walters isn’t convinced by Kerr’s reasoning. “You’re telling me I can’t play arguably the most talented kid on the roster because two of our three best players are unfortunately turnover-prone? I don’t buy it,” he said on the podcast. Walters feels there is something more to the strained relationship between Jonathan Kuminga and Steve Kerr.
IMAGN
“I love Steph Kerr. I think he’s a great coach in almost every aspect of everything he does. Unfortunately, there is something weird with his feelings about Kuminga. Whether it’s a mental block, whether there’s something we don’t know about, whether Kuminga’s work ethic behind the scenes is not up to par, I have no idea. But it all makes me uncomfortable and sad,” he added on the podcast.
With no offers coming and the Warriors not willing to meet Kuminga’s demands, what is the next step?
The Warriors only stand to lose
So far, the Warriors have positioned themselves to match any offer that Kuminga draws. The Sacramento Kings are a team that seems heavily interested in acquiring the young forward. However, those negotiations haven’t reached a significant point. Walters thinks there’s a good chance Kuminga remains with the Warriors at the start of the season.
They did forward a $7.9 million offer. However, if they do view the explosive forward as a trade chip, they need to inflate his value. And aside from other teams hesitating to provide Kuminga with a big contract, even the Warriors don’t have enough data to understand what Kuminga is truly worth. But still, Walter thinks that for it to be valuable, they need to pay JK handsomely.
“Look, in order to make him a really valuable trade candidate in terms of return, he is going to have to be paid pretty well. And that means at least $20 million, if not $25 to $30 million. That means that the Warriors have to at least be comfortable with the idea of being stuck with that. And it doesn’t seem that they are,” he said on Locked on Warriors.
If Kuminga can’t find a new home in the offseason, the qualifying offer will stand. That doesn’t bode well for the Warriors as moving Kuminga is essential to make upgrades around their roster. They have been linked to Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton. But till they figure out what to do with Kuminga, the franchise can’t act on any of their desires.
The situation can’t just be left unaddressed. In the last few years from Stephen Curry, the Warriors want to be primed for championships. However, that will require them to make swift decisions. Until the Kuminga rock falls, the Warriors will remain stagnant.
What do you think the Warriors should do? Let us know your views in the comments below.
The post Steve Kerr’s Excuse for Jonathan Kuminga Triggers $20M Dilemma for Warriors, Per Insider appeared first on EssentiallySports.
