The Golden State Warriors will face the New Orleans Pelicans tonight, with Shams Charania breaking the news that 22-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga will be after a slow start to the season. Head coach Steve Kerr was asked about the same in the pre-game press conference, explaining how he's not worried about Kuminga rediscovering his rhythm after a rocky start to the season.
"Three games is nothing, I don't worry about a small sample size like that. JK had a great preseason, he'll come around. We're gonna need his force and athleticism, and tonight could be a big night for him in that regard, depending on how the game plays out. We have played 12 people each game, so it's going to be hard for guys to individually find their rhythm because they're not playing as much. I'm not worried about JK at all, he'll come around."
Through the first three games of the season, Kuminga has averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, visibly struggling to adjust to the Warriors' revamped offense this season. He's 1-9 on three-point attempts this season, with his ice-cold shot hurting the Warriors spacing.
Golden State has started their season 2-1 while being one of the best offenses in the NBA despite Kuminga's scoring struggles. The game against the Pelicans will be notable, as the Warriors will be without Stephen Curry, who hurt his ankle in their last game. Kuminga being voluntarily benched when Golden State is short-handed with some injuries is even more fascinating.
What Does This Mean For Kuminga's Future?
This is a huge development, no matter how much Kerr tries to downplay it. Kuminga is in a contract year and has already failed to agree on an extension with the Warriors, hitting the restricted free agency market next season. If his role is reduced this season, he won't have a chance to command a major offer next season, allowing the Warriors to re-sign him to a contract that could favor them.
Even if a team is willing to take a chance on Kuminga's potential, the Warriors will have matching rights to re-sign him regardless. The player is in a tough situation under these circumstances, as his best chance for a payday is to prove his value to the Warriors, which he hasn't through the season's first three games.
It could be harsh to make this change so early in the season, but as Kerr mentioned, the Warriors are playing 12-man rotations right now. There are a lot of players fighting for minutes on the squad, so prioritizing Kuminga over the others when Kuminga is underperforming would be very unfair.
There's a chance this could signify a potential trade in the works, as the Warriors could be trying to protect Kuminga's value while they continue negotiations, but that's a more far-fetched idea as of now. The Warriors protected Kuminga over summer trade conversations.
He'll have a chance to earn his place in the rotation back, but he needs to maximize the minutes he gets on the court to re-emerge as a core franchise piece to secure his future.
