The Golden State Warriors are entering a crucial offseason.
Following their blowout loss in the opening round of the NBA Play-In Tournament against the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors find themselves with many more questions than answers.
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Klay Thompson is entering unrestricted free agency, although superstar Stephen Curry made it clear he doesn’t want to play without Thompson. The other member of the team’s big three, Draymond Green, is entering year two of a four-year, $100 million contract. However, there were reports that his volatility has worn on members of the organization.
Behind the big three is a solid young core of players, headlined by forward Jonathan Kuminga.
The Warriors’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has been a key role player for the Warriors over the last three seasons and took a leap in 2023-24. This season, Kuminga averaged career-highs in points (16.1), rebounds (4.8), assists (2.2), and minutes (26.3) per game, and started 46 of the 74 games he appeared in.
His consistent growth at the NBA level has him in line for a huge extension, as he’s entering the final year of team control in 2024-25.
This week, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne joined Willard and Dibs on 95.7 The Game to discuss the Warriors’ upcoming offseason. At one point, she was asked if Kuminga would be on the table in a potential offseason trade.
“Not at all,” Shelburne said. “It’s gonna get complicated because of his extension talks and how much money they have, but I think they’ll do everything they can to keep him. I mean, I don’t think they want to even talk about him.”
Earlier this year, ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks was on Willard and Dibs and estimated what Kuminga’s market could look like.
“Probably what you’re looking at in Minnesota with Jaden McDaniels,” Marks said. “He got five (years) for $131 (million). You’re probably looking at $30 million per year.”
Kuminga turns 22 in October, and he’s still only getting better. The Warriors know they struck gold with Kuminga in the draft, and they don’t want to give up on him as Curry, Thompson, and Green continue to age.
Curry is entering his age-37 season in 2024 while Green will be entering his age-35 season. If the Warriors bring back Thompson, who’s entering his age-35 season, their core will all be at the tail ends of their careers.
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While the Warriors have enjoyed more success than any team in the last decade, they don’t want to enter a full-on rebuild following the Curry era. Thus, they need to start thinking about the future, and Kuminga clearly appears to be a part of their future plans.
While it’s impossible to completely rule out a trade as the Warriors try to build a contender around Curry in the twilight of his career, it seems very likely that the team will do whatever they can to keep Kuminga in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future.
Uncommon Knowledge
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