The Golden State Warriors have been thrust into an interesting position this summer.
The Golden State Warriors' front office will have a few difficult decisions to make as the 2025 NBA offseason continues to roll along.
Golden State's disappointing defeat in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves ushered in a feeling of unpredictability with regard to the team's summer plans, mainly having to do with their 22-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga's impending restricted free agency.
The high-flying wing has previously vocalized his desire to become an All-Star talent, whether it's alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler as a member of the Warriors, or elsewhere. As a result, he's been under the trade rumor microscope while the Warriors' general manager Mike Dunleavy has assessed his options, one of which could be to perform a critical sign-and-trade deal to ship Kuminga off to a team where he can become the main draw.
In an effort to offer his thoughts on the Warriors' current state and the future of Kuminga, Charlotte Hornets broadcaster, former 16-year NBA veteran and father of Stephen, Dell Curry, recently spoke on the team's positions of need and what the franchise should do in terms of handling Kuminga's immediate future.
"A lot of teams wish they had an athletic big," Curry shared with ClutchPoints' DJ Siddiqi on Monday.
"Go find one that a team's willing to give up on, to help your opponent out. That's the game now."
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"They got to figure out the Jonathan Kuminga situation, he has value around the league, whether they want to re-sign him, bring him back or use him to bring more value. Maybe he's the guy they use to get that athletic big. There's so many scenarios of how teams and how the Warriors can get better."
"That window is closing obviously with Steph, Draymond and Jimmy getting up there in age. They've got to make some decisions now to make sure that they have the team that it takes to make a run at it."
After contributing 20.8 points and 3.0 rebounds on a stellar 60.0% effective field goal percentage during the Warriors' five-game series against the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Kuminga proved to some degree that he can act as a top scoring option for a competitive team in a postseason setting.
The 6-foot-8 combo-forward averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds throughout 47 appearances in the regular season for Golden State, possibly doing enough for a team like the Brooklyn Nets or Sacramento Kings to grant him a larger opportunity via sign-and-trade.
Talks between the Warriors and Kings have remained active in recent weeks, but little traction has been made towards a potential deal. Sacramento most recently offered a package centered around their former No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Devin Carter, but the 6-foot-2 point guard would not satisfy the Warriors' ever-growing need for a big man.
With Stephen Curry entering his age-38 season in 2025-26 along with the aging defensive duo of Green and Butler, Dunleavy will need to act fast if he wishes to keep the Warriors competitive for the remaining seasons of Curry's prime.
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Category: Basketball
