Warriors are still sticking to their long-term plan with young players

For the past few years, the Golden State Warriors have been building for the post-Stephen Curry era. The front office has meticulously worked to balance two timelines. Unfortunately, that balancing act left the Warriors stranded in no man's land. 

Fortunately, the addition of Jimmy Butler will likely help change the Warriors' fortunes. He's a born winner and brings something different to Golden State's rotation. Most importantly, he gives Curry the second All-Star teammate he's been craving.

Make no mistake about it, though: The Warriors still have one eye on the future. In a recent interview with The Athletic, team owner Joe Lacob made it clear that Jonathan Kuminga will stay with the franchise beyond the current season.

“Absolutely,” Lacob said. “100%. Are you kidding me? I love that guy. We love him.”

Kuminga is in the final year of his rookie scale contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Therefore, the Warriors will likely need to pay a premium to keep their best young talent in the Bay Area long-term. 

On paper, there appears to be significant overlap between what Kuminga and Butler bring to the table. However, that's a good thing, head coach Steve Kerr will ensure Kuminga gets enough minutes to continue on his current trajectory. At the same time, Butler's presence makes Kuminga the ideal player to learn from due to their similarities in games. 

It remains to be seen how the Warriors proceed with other young talents such as Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. After all, Butler's presence suggests that Golden State is trying to win now. Too much young talent could derail that goal. 

The front office has some questions to answer. But, at least for now, Warriors fans can rest easy knowing that a future All-Star like Kuminga is expected to remain with the franchise for years to come.