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Why the Warriors should part ways with polarizing young forward
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Why the Warriors should part ways with polarizing young forward

By Bryan Eglesia  |  Last updated May 29, 2025 11:29 AM ET

There is a lot of uncertainty heading into the offseason for the Golden State Warriors. The health status of the veteran trio, potential trades and free-agent acquisitions will all loom large, but the biggest unknown is the Jonathan Kuminga conundrum. 

From being the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and being part of a championship team his rookie year to not playing in multiple playoff games in his fourth year, it has been a roller coaster start to Kuminga’s career. 

Among the Warriors fanbase, the young wing is the most polarizing player since Kevin Durant dawned a Dubs uniform. From being compared to a young Kawhi Leonard or “Baby Giannis”, he has a segment of the fanbase in the Bay Area salivating over his star potential.

With his uber athleticism, ability to get to the rim at will and his aggressive nature with the ball in his hands, at 22-years old there is no doubt that Kuminga is the best young wing player in the organization. With his high upside, there are still aspects of his game that need improvement to fit into the Warriors system. 

Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr joined Tim Kawakani of the San Francisco Standard on the "TK show" and discussed the challenges of Kuminga fitting in the system. 

“I’ve been asked to win. Right now he’s not a guy who I can say I'm going to play 38 minutes with the roster we have, Steph, and Jimmy and Draymond, and put the puzzle that way together and expect to win.” 

If Golden State is solely focused on trying to get Curry his fifth championship in the next two years while he is still under contract, they don’t have time to develop young players.

“It doesn't mean he's (Kuminga) not a good player, doesn't mean he's not talented, it just means the fit and with the roster we have it’s tricky, no question. The game is about the puzzle fitting.”

Due to Kuminga’s restricted free agency and his fit into the Warrior's offensive system, many wonder if it would be best for team and player to part ways.

Despite the questions regarding Kuminga's fit, the organization is interested in bringing him back next season. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said during his end of season news conference he could see Kuminga back on the roster next season.

While the organization says it wants him back, reports suggest it is going to lean on working out a sign-and-trade. Ultimately, the Warriors have a lot of control over where Kuminga is going to play next season. 

The reality of the situation for the Warriors is that they are in the business of trying to win a championship, not developing young players, and the Jimmy Butler trade signified their intentions. The reality is Kuminga doesn't fit the team's timeline and is not a great fit for its offensive system.

To be blunt, Kerr and the personnel around the organization do not believe that he cannot play with or fit in the offensive system while Curry, Butler and Draymond Green are on the court at the same time with him.

Kuminga easily is the Warriors’ most enticing young asset, one that could be a centerpiece to a potential offseason trade. As of right now, the best way to acquire another talent that would help them win a championship would be moving on from Kuminga and getting a player who better fits their system.

Bryan Eglesia

Bryan Egleisa is a content producer located in the Bay Area, California. As a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He focuses on the Golden State Warriors & the NBA

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