The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are not in the same spot they were after the first week of the season. The wing player has now missed six consecutive games, and according to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, he has no idea when the forward will return.
Kuminga himself declined to comment to reporters on his health status, and added that with the Warriors’ recent struggles, the 23-year-old appears on the outside of the franchise like he was over the summer, and his future with the team is now in serious question.
According to multiple reports from ESPN, The Athletic and CBS Sports, the Warriors and Kuminga could be heading straight towards a divorce after what was initially a promising start with the team under his new contract.
“Something has to change, and chances are it’s going to be Kuminga. At this point, it’s just better for everyone to trade him. End the charade,” Brad Botkin wrote for CBS Sports. “So fire up the hypotheticals, because at this point, who wants to do this dance anymore? That contract, it appears now more than ever, was always an arranged marriage headed for divorce.”
Golden State is now 10-9, but the issues across the roster are hard to ignore, not just the Kuminga side of things. While Stephen Curry continues to carry the team, Al Horford and Draymond Green are out with injuries, and Golden State has some massive hurdles to overcome on both sides of the ball, regardless of whether Kuminga is in or not.
Kuminga And The Warriors Are Headed Towards A Divorce
There’s been a lot made and reported on Kuminga over the past few weeks. Green, Butler, and Curry have all come to his defense, but after comments made by Kerr on the forward’s uncertain status, new questions are being raised.
According to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, multiple times, Kuminga failed to share any update on his health.
“The Athletic approached Kuminga, who declined to comment. When told that it was Kerr who told the media to ask Kuminga himself how he was doing in recovery, he again declined to comment,” the insider wrote. “Kuminga is not required to speak to the media, but his decision not to share an update will only feed into the speculation about his lingering status.”
Kerr’s comments and Kuminga’s lack of comments have fueled a now-growing fire in Golden State, and with that, it’s becoming harder and harder to argue for him having a long-term future with the team.
“Kerr isn’t going to put a player on the floor who says he isn’t feeling well enough to play, but there seems to be a disconnect between player and coach that not only is worth noting, but feels like another chapter of the story that turned over the summer, when Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, repeatedly used Kerr’s name in interviews during contract negotiations,” Friedell added.
The coach had previously made an effort to give the forward a bigger role, but after his injury and downturn in play, Kuminga hasn’t held anything close to the same role since the first two weeks of the season. Rumors have circulated on a potential trade for months, but now, a move sending Kuminga out appears closer than ever.
Where Does That Leave Golden State
Besides Kuminga, the Warriors have issues across the roster.
“Al Horford is officially old. Gary Payton II can’t shoot. Buddy Hield can’t do anything but shoot. Brandin Podziemski and Moody can only sometimes shoot. Draymond is shooting 38% from the field. Only four teams in the league turn the ball over as often or more,” Botkin wrote.
Yet still, Kuminga’s status remains the biggest concern, as both his struggles when on the court and quiet absence when off are impossible to ignore for a team that had real title hopes before the season. While it’s hard to blame the 23-year-old for the team’s poor shooting or on-ball defense, it’s equally hard to say he’s been a key to their limited success.
Most recently, Curry shared some hope and that he understands what it feels like to watch from the sidelines, but made sure to put Kuminga on notice while he sits with an unknown return date.
“You can’t lose the feel for what we’re trying to do,” Curry said. “Because he’ll be held to that same standard when he comes back. We’ve all missed time at certain points and you understand how to balance that. It’s not easy because rehab sucks. It’s monotonous, it’s draining because you’re not doing what you love to do, and that’s be out there and play. Just try to keep everything light around the locker room.”
In an effort to both fix what has been their biggest issue team-chemistry-wise, while potentially testing the market to see what they can add, a Kuminga trade before the deadline looks like a forgone conclusion. Several teams have reported interest in the wing, and the Warriors should pounce at any chance they get to revamp and reinvigorate what appears to be Curry’s final chapter.
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