Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has had a Jonathan Kuminga dilemma since Jimmy Butler arrived via a trade in February last year. With Butler taking a role in the starting five with Draymond Green and Steph Curry, the questionable fit became quite obvious. Kerr, on the “Willard and Dibs” show, said in May that he didn’t like the Warriors’ spacing and shooting with all three on the floor.
Almost a year since acquiring Butler, trade talks surrounding Jonathan Kuminga have never been more intense. Ahead of the Warriors’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, Kerr addressed questions about Kuminga potentially playing elsewhere after the trade deadline:
“I’m disappointed for (Kuminga) that things didn’t continue to go the way they did the first couple of weeks. At the same time, it was gonna be tricky to start JK, Jimmy (Butler), Draymond (Green) at the 2, 3 and 4. Anybody can see that’s a tough combination based on shooting.
Kerr added that Steph Curry often compensates for lineup weaknesses but having Kuminga, Butler and Green for long stretches was not ideal. The multi-titled coach continued that they gave the trio a shot in the starting lineup before “going in a different direction.”
Jonathan Kuminga opened the season on a high note. He averaged 17.5 points per game on 55.4% shooting, including 45.0% from deep. Once his outside shooting regressed to normal, Kerr steadily dropped Kuminga’s minutes. Kuminga shot 22.7% from 3-point distance in November, a figure that improved to 25.0% last month.
The slight improvement was still below the league average of 36%, an issue Steve Kerr could not ignore. Kuminga has had multiple games where he did not play despite being healthy.
Steve Kerr shares funny story with his mom to make light of Jonathan Kuminga issue and Warriors’ struggles
The serious vibe that enveloped Steve Kerr’s pregame conference was briefly changed by a story from the coach. Kerr opened up about how his mom supports him in the NBA:
“When I call her, sometimes she’ll ask how I’m doing. … She doesn’t follow the NBA. I’m golden. I don’t ever have to worry about my mom calling to ask about Jonathan Kuminga or the substitution patterns or strategy. My mom never asks me any of that.”
Steve Kerr might not pressure him about those issues but Warriors fans will certainly keep a close eye on the Jonathan Kuminga situation. A report came out on Friday that the Dubs could package Kuminga, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield for the Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr.
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