Jonathan Cuminga remains a player for the Golden State Warriors despite ongoing trade speculation.
Inside Tim Kawakami rejected preliminary offers from Sacramento and Phoenix in the sign-and-trade scenario, but Tim Kawakami suggests that trading is not impossible.
Kuminga welcomed the opportunity to join both teams, but the Warriors wanted only valuable assets in return, complicating potential deals.
Young Forward also rejected a two-year, $45 million contract offer and revealed his desire to leave.
With Jonathan Cuminga departing, the four-year relationship ends since the Golden State Warriors were selected as the seventh overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed that the Warriors originally projected him as Andrew Wiggins.
Wiggins was important alongside Stephen Curry in the 2022 Championship run at Golden State, providing the precise role the Warriors assumed for Kuminga.
The plan included developing him as a versatile wing player who could contribute to both ends.
“When they originally drafted this guy, they considered him a replica of Andrew Wiggins type player he could play on the wings, he could develop a three-point shot in time and he would become the guy they could rely on defensively.
Kuminga showed a flash of potential in the 2023-24 season, averaging a career-high 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. However, a serious flaw prevented him from reaching Wiggins’ system integration level.
“To Kuminga’s credit, he did a lot with the warriors. The only problem is a, he’s not a shooter. B, he can’t actually play in the system next to Steve Curry.
Siegel noted that the acquisition of Jimmy Butler further complicated Kuminga’s role within the Warriors system. Butler quickly filled in the complementary star position that Kuminga wanted to occupy.
Butler adapted to the Golden State system by taking on the responsibility of playmaking while maintaining his scoring ability. His willingness to set up screens for his teammates and create attacks made him an ideal fit alongside curry and greens.
“And that’s a lot of what Jimmy Butler did when he came in. He took on another role where he was the alpha number one in Miami fever,” Siegel explained.
Butler’s versatility allowed him to function as a second facilitator, providing the necessary scoring punch Golden State. His seamless integration highlighted the limitations of Kuminga within the system.
“Now he’s setting the screen. He’s dashing with that free throw line expanding and he’s got the others involved.
A comparison of Butler’s immediate influence and Kuminga’s struggle explains why the Warriors remain open to trading their younger forwards despite his potential.