Warriors reporter Danny Emerman shares his ideas on the NBA offseason and past
The Warriors don’t have any incentive to pay Jonathan Kuminga a max contract extension earlier than the Oct. 21 deadline. And Kuminga has no incentive to simply accept a suggestion decrease than that earlier than then.
Persistence is a advantage, on this uncommon case, for each employees and administration.
In accordance with a number of experiences, Golden State shouldn’t be prepared to supply Kuminga the five-year, $224 million most contract extension earned by Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley and Franz Wagner. Given his potential and league precedent, that quantity is what Kuminga and his workforce needs to be searching for.
Kuminga and Moses Moody are each eligible for extensions. The Warriors did attain an settlement with Steph Curry, including an additional 12 months at $62.6 million to his contract, however dashing to increase the younger forwards does not make a lot sense. The Warriors ought to as a substitute see in the event that they — Kuminga specifically — are going to earn it.
Not like Wagner, Barnes, Mobley or Cade Cunningham, Kuminga has not proven a high-level expertise able to transferring a workforce ahead. Wagner is a flexible, big-bodied ahead, Mobley is an elite, versatile defender, Barnes is an offensive engine of play.
The closest Kuminga got here to a top-tier talent was the downhill wrecking ball. A terror in transition, Kuminga ranked 79.seventh percentile He’s efficient on the quick break, capturing 72.9 % from the basket. Already an above-average isolation scorer, he dominates smaller defenders and is just too fast for greater ones.
However Kuminga hasn’t but scratched the floor of what he could be as a defender, hasn’t but calibrated his three-point shot, wants to enhance as a rebounder and might stagnate on offensive possessions. For all of those causes, there are actual considerations about how you can combine him into Golden State’s lineups.
Kuminga made substantial progress final season, however that is numerous query marks for a dedication above $40 million per 12 months.
It’s not totally Kuminga’s fault that he hasn’t performed to the extent of his 2021 draft counterparts. He joined a championship-caliber Warriors workforce and didn’t get an actual likelihood to contribute constantly till final season. It’s laborious to develop with out enjoying actual minutes each sport. High picks usually get handed the keys to the automobile immediately; Kuminga had a learner’s allow.
However extending Kuminga now could be untimely. The Warriors ought to know that feeling, since they paid Jordan Poole earlier than they needed to (although there have been apparent extenuating circumstances).
Letting Kuminga play out the season within the ultimate 12 months of his contract doesn’t suggest Golden State would lose him. He could be a restricted free agent subsequent summer time, which might permit the Warriors to retain him by matching any provide a workforce makes him.
Underneath the brand new collective bargaining settlement, restricted free company may change into a instrument to retain native expertise as a substitute of mechanically handing massive contracts to former first-round picks. Drafting and growing profitable gamers continues to be paramount, however restricted free company places elevated strain on each payroll greenback.
It additionally limits the variety of groups that would probably line up for a participant like Kuminga. Conditions will change, however there are solely seven groups with a projected wage cap of greater than $40 million for the 2025-26 season, in line with SpotracThey’d assist decide Kuminga’s market, with Golden State sustaining management.
Additionally, as The Athletic It has been famous that extending Kuminga earlier than October 21 enormously complicates the Warriors’ capacity to incorporate him in a commerce, as he could be poisoned.
All indications are that we must wait and see.
Greatest-case state of affairs: Kuminga performs like a madman in a breakthrough season, helps the Warriors make the playoffs and earns each penny of a max contract — which can come within the type of a brand new deal after the season. If that occurs, the Warriors could be comfortable to pay him.
It could be a win-win; it could simply take somewhat persistence.
Eager about Jimmy Butler?
Sam Amick of The Athletic mentioned on Tim Kawakami’s “TK Present” podcast This week, Golden State requested about Jimmy Butler, whose contract is up this 12 months.
Pat Riley made some pointed feedback after the Warmth’s elimination, saying that “being accessible each evening” weighs closely on Miami’s choice on whether or not or to not lengthen Butler.
Butler is 35. He has missed greater than 1 / 4 of his video games over the previous 5 seasons and has performed greater than 70 video games solely as soon as in his profession.
It is sensible that Golden State could be cautious of this example. They’re clearly motivated so as to add a star-level participant subsequent to Steph Curry, and Butler is terrific when he is accessible, particularly within the playoffs.
The Warmth would not wish to lose Butler in free company for nothing, however additionally they possible wish to hold him for the 2024-25 season. Whereas they’re clearly not at Boston’s stage within the Japanese Convention, they’ve depth and might be a prime contender if every part goes their means: Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic are making leaps ahead, Butler stays wholesome, Bam Adebayo continues to enhance, and Terry Rozier is turning into extra comfy of their system.
If the Warriors make a suggestion or two for Butler, the Warmth will virtually definitely need Kuminga in return. Buying and selling a younger participant for an outdated one — normally a nasty thought — turns into doubly dangerous when the younger participant in query has confirmed sturdy and the veteran is injury-prone.
Butler is correct on the listing of gamers the Warriors ought to think about buying and selling for Kuminga. He would possibly simply be the brink. Paul George? Positive. Butler? I might in all probability grasp up the telephone.
The Warriors like Kuminga an excessive amount of to commerce him, however not sufficient to offer him a max extension. It is a tough place, nevertheless it’s not loopy.
*Geese*
The Giants needed Marco Luciano to be their common shortstop at first of spring coaching, after which he kicked each different ball that got here his means. They selected him after he made 5 errors in 9 video games.
After letting go of Jorge Soler on the commerce deadline, Farhan Zaidi mentioned San Francisco was releasing up the designated hitter spot for Luciano. That lasted 5 video games over two weeks.
The Giants moved Luciano to second base, then began Donovan Walton in his place Friday.
Luciano, the previous prime prospect, hasn’t hit a house run this season. He is handled again points as he is labored his means up via the minor leagues, when San Francisco has missed each alternative they may have needed to commerce him for one thing of worth. The concept of Luciano has been tantalizing for years, however nothing tangible has come of it.
Nobody needs to say it, however Luciano may very nicely be the Giants’ James Wiseman.
