Steve Kerr's comments are proof Jonathan Kuminga needs to leave Warriors

Jonathan Kuminga's future with the Golden State Warriors is far from certain. The explosive forward is set to hit restricted free agency this summer. Multiple teams around the NBA would likely be willing to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal to free him from the Bay Area.

Since joining the Warriors via the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga has struggled to nail down a consistent role. He has fallen victim to the team's desire to contend for a championship with an aging roster led by superstar guard Stephen Curry. 

Kuminga's athletic approach, which is built on rim pressure and physical drives to the rim, hasn't meshed with Steve Kerr's motion-based offense. At least, not enough for him to be seen as a core member of the rotation.

During a recent appearance on the "TK Show" podcast with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, Kerr detailed the struggle he has with finding minutes for Kuminga. 

"All I do is I coach the team every year and try to put the puzzle together the best I can," Kerr said. "I've, you know, it's a tricky one because Jonathan obviously is gifted and wants to play a bigger role and wants to play more. And, I've been asked to win. Right now, he's not a guy who I can say that I'm going to play 38 minutes with the roster that we have...Doesn't mean he's not a really good player. Doesn't mean he's not talented. It just means the fit. And with the roster that we have, it's tricky...We can talk about spacing, usage rate, and all that stuff. But the game is about puzzle fitting. It's about five guys complimenting one another at both ends of the floor. So all I do is, you know, I try to win."

If Kerr openly admits that Kuminga isn't a good fit for the Warriors rotation, there's no reason for him to stick around. The issue is that Golden State holds all the cards regarding his future. Mike Dunleavy Jr. isn't letting Kuminga walk out the door with nothing coming back in return.

As such, a sign-and-trade is the best path forward for all involved. Kuminga is still young enough to make good on his All-Star potential. However, he must find a new situation. One where he's valued as an integral part of a team's plans, and where he's allowed to grow and flourish on the court. 

Hopefully, we will see Kuminga suiting up for a new team next season. Otherwise, his career will stall — through no fault of his own.