Months after the Golden State Warriors last won the NBA Finals, Draymond Green’s fury boiled over, and he punched then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face. Green has since apologized for the incident.
In many ways, the punch signaled the end of the Warriors’ dynasty, although with Green, Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler all on the roster, the team is expected to at least be competitive in a loaded Western Conference.
Still, the team has come to a standstill this summer, unable to make any sort of move until Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation is solved. With the Warriors, especially Green, boasting a less-than-ideal track record when it comes to supporting young players, one might expect Green to ensure that the door hits Kuminga on the way out.
Instead, the Warriors’ best players are all supportive of the young star, who has steadily improved over his four NBA seasons.
Draymond Green Can Rectify Jordan Poole Mistake
It’s unreasonable to assume that Poole will ever forgive Green for the punch. Poole was a key player on the 2022 title team, although his bout with Green made him quickly expendable.
For the front office, the punch was financially convenient, as it allowed them to get off of Poole’s four-year, $128 million contract extension, trading him to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul.
Paul ended up having one of the worst seasons of his career in Golden State, and it was quickly apparent that keeping Poole as a young building block would have been the smarter move, although Green made sure that bridge was burned. With Kuminga, he seems to be more supportive.
“Green has been a key mentor and supporter for Kuminga behind the scenes,” ClutchPoints’ insider Brett Siegel wrote. “The veteran has always spoken highly of Kuminga’s potential, and he has wanted him back since the offseason began.”
While Green might feel that he owes a young player some support after his mistakes in the past, he is not the only veteran on the team begging for the Warriors to appease Kuminga.
Green Has Offered Kuminga Vocal Support
Kuminga has several options when it comes to possible deals with Golden State, although none of them provide him with the freedom he would like. He and his agent, simply put, would like a player option down the road so Kuminga can control his destiny.
While the Warriors don’t want to give up their control and flexibility over the young forward, the veterans on the roster seem to think he is being perfectly reasonable.
“The Warriors veterans — Curry, Green, and Butler — have all communicated with the Dubs’ brain trust to get a deal done,” explained Siegel. “All three stars want Kuminga back on the roster, as his athleticism, durability, and production can’t be replicated. If lost, Kuminga’s void will be felt throughout the 82-game season.”
In Kuminga’s first 32 games last season before suffering an injury, he averaged a solid 16.8 points and five rebounds while shooting 45.9% from the floor. The Golden State Warriors went 18-14 during that stretch, making it clear that he plays a key role in their success.
Green seems to realize that, and has been offered a rare second chance.
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