The Golden State Warriors are officially out of the NBA playoffs after a second-round defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This summer, the Dubs will respond with several roster moves, and Jonathan Kuminga is at the top of the list. According to the latest intel, the young swingman is eager to branch out of Golden State and prove himself as a leading star in another organization.
"Kuminga, league sources said, still has visions of becoming an All-Star, not fitting into an ever-moving mid-tier rotation role," wrote The Athletic's Anthony Slater. "He wants to be a featured player in an NBA offense and chase the 20-point-and-beyond dreams he’s spent his life chasing, and the last week of his fourth season tasting. There isn’t an irreconcilable player-and-coach or player-and-organization personality clash, league sources said. This is all about finding the contract and opportunity Kuminga craves."
Kuminga, 22, was drafted 7th overall by the Warriors in 2021. After a promising rookie campaign, Kuminga earned a larger role after helping the Warriors win the title. Slowly but surely, he's been moving up the Warriors' hierarchy and taking on increasingly large roles.
In the 2024-25 campaign, however, Kuminga's place on the team became unclear as Steve Kerr began to cut back his minutes and opportunities. Down to an average of 24.3 minutes per game, Kerr lost faith in Jonathan, especially down the stretch when he received several DNPs in the playoffs. Now, his future is in doubt with his contract set to expire at the end of this season.
"The Warriors’ front office, Kuminga’s representatives, and the league are expected to explore all options into July," wrote Slater. "But team sources have been hinting that, because of these market and financial restrictions, there’s a likely world where the most obvious and prudent path is for them to bring Kuminga back and figure the rest out later."
On paper, Kuminga is putting up decent numbers and looks like a promising young swingman. This past season, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 45.5% shooting. At 6'8" and 210 pounds, he's an ideal size at the forward position, but frequent lapses in judgment have hindered his growth on the Warriors.
Now, after losing in the Semifinals, Kuminga has a chance to decide his own NBA future, but it's impossible to say where he'll be when it's all said and done. With his skills, Kuminga could be a great addition for a young, developing team like the Spurs, Pistons, or the Orlando Magic.
Depending on what he asks for in his next contract, he might also be chased by some title contenders looking for one final piece. These teams include the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Rockets, who were all in the NBA playoffs this year.
Despite his current wishes, it's also possible that Kuminga will end up back in Golden State. With the rise of Jimmy Butler, his services aren't needed nearly as much, but the Warriors may decide to take another chance on him as a key piece to their future.
With so much potential and an impressive work ethic, Jonathan Kuminga believes he's ready for a bigger role, and he might be willing to leave the Warriors behind to pursue it.
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