The one upside for the Golden State Warriors not adding any new faces this summer is that the current roster can continue developing a tight bond. Jimmy Butler already looks like he’s fitting in with his veteran teammates of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Butler is currently in China. On Wednesday, August 6, in a post to his Instagram account, Butler was talking about each player’s role within the Warriors’ rotation. The veteran forward likened Green’s role to that of the Batmobile, in that he’s the one who gets the team “where we need to go.”
“He’s the one who gets us where we need to go. He does a little bit of everything,” Butler said. “Shoot them things, somebody’s shooting at us, he’s rolling over, protecting us… Golden State, we’re on the way… I’ll tell you that.”
Both Butler and Green have outspoken and combative personalities. However, any concerns about the two clashing appear to have been put to rest. Since arriving in the Bay Area, Butler has emerged as a key piece of the team’s rotation, both on the court and in the locker room.
Furthermore, his metaphor for Green’s role on the Warriors is incredibly apt. Green is the engine that drives Golden State forward, and his supporting role is key to the team’s chances of success.
Warriors Unlikely to Trade Jonathan Kuminga
The primary reason why Golden State is yet to add any new faces this summer is due to their current standoff with Jonathan Kuminga.
In recent weeks, the notion of a potential sign-and-trade has been rife within the media. However, according to Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, the Warriors have no plans to move on from their former lottery pick this summer.
“Kuminga won’t be traded this summer,” Kawakami reported. “He’ll be back on the Warriors’ roster to start the season. And it’ll either come when he signs the Warriors’ offer or accepts the $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.”
Throughout his tenure in the Bay Area, Kuminga has struggled to nail down a consistent role in Steve Kerr’s rotation. That is likely playing a role in Kuminga dragging his heels on a new contract. After all, he needs consistent playing time if he wants to reach his full potential.
Warriors Want an Unprotected First-Round Pick
If a team wants to convince the Warriors to part with Kuminga, it will reportedly cost them a high-value unprotected first-round draft pick. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings came close with a recent sign-and-trade offer, but the protections on the pick likely scuppered the deal.
“If that pick didn’t convey, then the Warriors would get the least favorable of the Kings or San Antonio’s first-round pick in 2031,” Amick wrote. “Those protections have been the primary sticking point, team sources said, as the Warriors have insisted that the first-rounder be unprotected. Thus, the stalemate.”
Negotiations over Kuminga’s future have derailed the Warriors’ offseason. The franchise is likely waiting on an agreement before adding any fresh faces. Unfortunately for Golden State, it would appear the standoff could go right down to the wire, and that may make things difficult in terms of bringing fresh faces to the Bay Area ahead of training camp.
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