What NBA voices think of Jonathan Kuminga's value as Warriors gridlock lingers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With the Warriors and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga mired in a monthlong gridlock, I checked in with four people aligned with the NBA in search of an answer to the question at the root of the stalemate:
What do people around the league, not associated with the Warriors, think of the 22-year-old forward?
Willing to share their thoughts were two longtime scouts, one former NBA player who has transitioned to an analyst role and one former player who has spent nearly two decades as an executive in front offices around the league.
All respondents spoke under the condition of anonymity.
What do you see as Kuminga’s value within the league?
Scout No. 1: I can tell you that the [Chicago] Bulls have an interest in Kuminga, just as a whole lot of other teams do. But the problem is, they’re trying to figure him out. Everybody is trying to figure him out.
Analyst:The [Sacramento] Kings (and the Bulls) are interested in him. I really think that young man can help some teams. I don’t know him personally. I don’t know his basketball IQ. I don’t know his psyche. But just looking from an analyst position, the Golden State Warriors have a gem on their hands, and they know it. What I’m curious about is what the f–k is going on at Golden State to where he can’t play?
Exec: I see it from both sides. I see from Jonathan’s side, and I see the team’s side. He’s not asking for No. 1 money, which would be in the high $30 [millions per year]. He is asking for No. 2 money. And maybe they want to give No. 3 money. I think a lot of the issues are because of the way [the Warriors] play, because they are different than everybody else. I just think that if he were on another team — one that’s going where a lot of the NBA is going — he would cause some problems. He already causes problems.
Scout No. 2: He thinks he could be more than just a complementary player, or a third or fourth option. He thinks he could do more. I believe him. And if he were on a team that was young or a team that was rebuilding, and you put him in the starting lineup and gave him minutes, and he knew he was going to get minutes, and he knew he was going to have an opportunity to play through mistakes, then I think he could be an All-Star level player and a primary guy.
He’s 22. How much concern is there about his flaws? And how correctable are they?
Scout No. 1: His mistakes are not taking too many bad shots; it’s the stupid things. Let’s say he does four stupid things a night. If he can cut that to two, then people will want him badly. But so far, he hasn’t been able to do it on a consistent basis.
Exec: Mistakes happen. The question is, are they repeatable mistakes? Are they something that’s consistently going on where in every game, you’re like, “I just can’t trust this guy?” If that’s the situation, should he be in at the end of the games? The Warriors have to ask themselves: Is Kuminga better than his problems?
Any thoughts on how he has developed with Golden State?
Scout No. 1: It’s probably the best situation possible to figure it out, because you’ve got Steph [Curry] as a leader and [Steve] Kerr as coach. Can you imagine the short leash he’d have with [Tom] Thibodeau? If Golden State can’t figure him out, which they can’t, how can the rest of us? They should know him better than anybody else.
Exec: He came to a team that was playing for championships. So, it’s hard for someone to have chances to work through his mistakes. And then it’s a thing. When a guy is “in the freezer” and doesn’t get that full opportunity to just go explore and find out, it’s really, really difficult. The good part is, he’s shown these flashes to just be able to go on scoring bunches. I mean, he did it in the playoffs. Ideally, right now, I think he’s in a great spot when he is not the focal guy.
Scout No. 2: With the Warriors being who they have been over these past 10 years, it’s been hard for all their draft picks to get meaningful playing time … they haven’t really gotten a lot of opportunity like their counterparts, like the guys at OKC, the guys in Orlando. The only way you develop or become better in the NBA is through playing time. You don’t get better working with an assistant coach after practice or before practice, or watching film. You get better in the game and getting those minutes. The Warriors can say they don’t think Kuminga does this well enough, still needs to develop this way. But if you look at what he does have and what he can do, he’s the only Jonathan Kuminga on that team. They don’t have another athlete like him.
Can he help solve Golden State’s offensive issues in the non-Steph minutes?
Exec: He probably doesn’t want to hear it, but if he’s coming off the bench for what they call the non-Steph minutes, he could be great. He could just come in and just get buckets because he has so many tools. If you find out he can play in the non-Steph minutes, look out.
Scout No.2: Maybe. But if he’s going to be a sixth man, you don’t want to pay him [$30 million per year]. That’s the money he wants. He wants All-Star money. And then he’s got to play like an All-Star.
Analyst: I don’t understand why Steve isn’t on top of him, saying, “Look, here’s where we’re at. When Steph is not in the game, it’s you. You’re going to be my No. 1 option. You understand that. And the only reason why you’re No. 2 is because we have Steph Curry.” Think about it. When he comes off the bench, he’s a first-tier scorer going against second-tier defenders. He can cook every night. He can eat like [Minnesota Timberwolves center] Naz Reid.
What do you see as Kuminga’s ceiling?
Analyst: I see a young All-Star in the making. He’s got everything it takes. He got all the tools. Yes, I’ll give him that, because I’ve seen him go up and make some plays that get me out of my seat, that make me go, “Wow, damn.” I’m just shaking my head.
Scout No. 2: He has the potential to be an All-Star level player. And I thought that from the beginning, when he was at Team Ignite, just watching him play at Ignite and seeing how far he had come for a guy who was late to the game, right? And I just think that where you go, what team you go with, makes all the difference in the world in terms of, what opportunities do you get to play? What veterans are there? What is the organization’s position on young players? To me, he has really thrived and delivered when he’s had his opportunity. It’s just that when you’re on a veteran team, it’s hard because everything is centered around those veterans.
Scout No. 1: I do think he can be an All-Star. The question is, how much better has he gotten in the last three years in the areas we’re talking about? He hasn’t improved as much as they would like. Is he a lifetime tease? I don’t know, because he teases you — there’s no question about it. And then he’ll do something stupid. Here’s an example. Tyler Kolek is playing for the Knicks. Third-string point guard. He’s not good enough to get minutes. What he is on the collegiate side, and maybe on the NBA side, is one step slow but two steps smart. Kuminga is the opposite. He’s one step fast, but two steps slow mentally. That doesn’t mean he’s a dumb kid. I don’t mean that at all. Some guys just don’t see the game in real time.
Exec: He’s shown these flashes to just go score in bunches. He did it in the playoffs. I think he’s in a great spot when he is not the focal guy, but he can be a great No. 2 or No. 3. Maybe not a No. 2 yet, but definitely a No. 3 on a good team. But, I don’t know if he is the guy that you can say, hey, we can count on him to be a core foundation piece that’s going to lead us to a championship.
Can he reach his ceiling with the Warriors?
Analyst: Probably not in [Golden State’s] system. Put him in a place like Portland. Put him on a team that plays “four out.” The dude can get his own. Not too many guys in the league right now can go get their own bucket. He can. Just give him the ball and move out of the way, and he can do it.
Scout No. 2: If Steph and Draymond [Green] are going to be around for the next two years, it’s going to be hard for him to ever become himself because of the style. They’re never changing anything for Steph Curry. Steph Curry is going to get to play like Steph Curry for as long as he can put on that uniform.
Exec: Not right now, with Steph and Jimmy [Butler] and Draymond. But you can’t blame him for wanting to go for it because he’s tasted it. He’s had 30-point playoff games, you know? I get where he’s coming from. He wants a chance to go be the guy. The question is, is it in Golden State, with this team?
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