NBA Trade Rumors: If not given a greater role moving forward, Jonathan Kuminga could end up demanding a trade away from the Golden State Warriors.
For as much as the 2022-23 NBA season will be remembered as one to forget for the Golden State Warriors, there were some small positives to take away from it from a macro perspective – one of which includes the continued growth and development of Jonathan Kuminga.
The lasting image that we have of Kuminga this season for the Warriors includes playing an extremely limited role of the team in the playoffs; he only played 10 games in the postseason and averaged six minutes per game on each occasion.
That shouldn’t take away from an overall successful sophomore season in which he averaged 10 points and three rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He appears ready for a bigger role heading into next season, but therein lies a potential problem – there may not be a bigger role for him in Golden State. And, according to a recent report, if Kuminga isn’t given a greater role on the team heading into next season, he will/could ask the Warriors for a trade
Where Jonathan Kuminga stands with the Golden State Warriors
It’s difficult to predict whether Kuminga could seemingly have a bigger role with the Warriors next season. The players that were ahead of him on the depth chart and in the team’s rotation this postseason are likely going to still be in the picture for the foreseeable future.
The early word is that the Warriors want to re-sign Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins is not going anywhere. Could he be the third forward for the team next season? Is that something the Warriors want to entrust with him? Would that be enough to appease Kuminga heading into next season?
It’s tough to predict but one thing that is very much evident right now is that Kuminga seems to be ready to play. Not only from an off-the-court point of view but also from a basketball perspective. He’s far from a finished product but he’s flashed enough to the point where he deserves a shot to play consistent minutes.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Warriors approach the offseason. Are they ready to pivot toward a more younger build or are they willing to continue to ride their veterans that have gotten them to the place where they are?