The situation between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors remains unsettled this offseason, and former NBA guard Austin Rivers believes the writing is on the wall.
Golden State reportedly offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million deal, but the he turned it down.
He is seeking more money, long-term security, and most importantly, a defined role with consistent minutes.
Rivers compared the situation to how the Atlanta Hawks have handled Jalen Johnson.
“That’s not a place that historically has developed young talent,” Rivers said on Ringer NBA. “When you look at other young prospects, they brought players in strategically to fit around Steph. They still play through Steph. Steph said in an interview the other day, ‘I’m nowhere near retiring. That train is still moving.’ You know, they signed Jimmy to a two-year extension, a guy who plays the same position as Kuminga, two years $120 million, so that doesn’t tell Kuminga right then and there that this is the direction we’re going in.
“The main difference is Jalen Johnson has progressed through the team that drafted him that wants him to be a star, so they’re paying him to be that. It’s not hard to grasp Kuminga. It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster. His minutes have been up and down. He wants to be a star. He wants to be a first or second option. It’s not going to happen on the Warriors. They’ve made that very clear by playing a variety of guys over [him].”
The 22-year-old was drafted 7th overall in 2022 and showed flashes of becoming a key offensive piece but endured another inconsistent season.
A midyear injury sidelined him for nearly half the year, and when he returned, his role remained unclear. Still, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 47 games and matched that production in the playoffs.
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