Warriors Rumors: Contract deadline looms for Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody
Monday was the extension deadline for NBA players entering the fourth year of their rookie contracts. It was an uneventful day for the Golden State Warriors, but next October promises to hold far more importance for the franchise. That is when Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody — the No. 7 and 14 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, respectively — become eligible for their rookie-scale extensions.
This season will therefore be critical to determining the course of the franchise for years to come. Kuminga has publicly bumped on his inconsistent playing time under Steve Kerr. The Warriors remain committed to contention, which can lead to role instability for young players who, despite obvious potential, are prone to mistakes less common among older players.
Kuminga was a flat-out stud in preseason and he is expected to handle a sturdier workload in 2023-24. The arrival of Chris Paul is a potential benefit for Kuminga, who will not only score off plenty of CP3 dimes, but who could benefit from the mentorship and corporate knowledge Paul supplies. We saw Deandre Ayton take a serious fundamental leap following Paul's arrival in Phoenix. The Warriors will hope for a similar jump with Kuminga.
Kuminga continues to tease the star upside that made him a lottery pick years ago. At 6-foot-9, he's a completely bonkers athlete with uncommon strength and explosiveness on drives to the cup. If he can get more comfortable operating as a screener while boosting the ancillary attributes of his skill set, the leap will come — and the Warriors will have no choice but to play him more.
He was on the floor for 20 minutes in Golden State's opening night loss to Phoenix. Notably, he closed the game over Andrew Wiggins. Moses Moody, who has already emerged as a reliable 3-and-D weapon despite a similar minutes crunch, put together 11 points and three rebounds in 18 minutes.
Both players have the talent to warrant long-term investment, but the Warriors are already paying significant money to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins. Klay Thompson is expected to enter free agency in 2024 and could command a lengthy, lucrative deal. As Golden State struggles to balance its cap sheet, there's a very real chance Kuminga and Moody end up testing the restricted free agent market. A ton of interested suitors would come knocking.
Warriors Rumors: Chris Paul shines in Golden State debut
Chris Paul made his Warriors debut in Tuesday's loss to the Suns. While the final result went the wrong way, Paul proved instrumental to the Warriors' near-comeback. When Stephen Curry picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, Paul stayed on the floor longer than initially expected and positioned Golden State for a late push.
As Anthony Slater of The Athletic points out, the Warriors — who historically struggle in Curry-less minutes — were plus-5 in the 18 minutes Curry sat on Tuesday. Golden State was minus-9 in the minutes Curry played.
That is not an indictment on Curry, of course. Those numbers won't hold all season. But, it is a promising sign for the CP3 era. The Warriors started Paul next to Curry, but made sure to stagger the rotation to keep one point guard on the floor at all times. Whether he stays in the starting five or transitions to a sixth man role upon Draymond Green's eventual return, Paul will continue to spearhead the second unit.
As great as the Warriors have been, the team has never possessed a playmaker of Paul's caliber in the backcourt. An expert pick-and-roll manipulator who has made a career of passing teammates open, Paul figures to operate as Golden State's offensive quarterback. Not unlike Draymond, he's a vocal leader who will make sure everybody is on the same page.
Paul ended the game with 14 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in 34 minutes. He struggled from the field — 4-of-15, notably 0-of-6 from deep — but so often, Paul's impact will go beyond points and beyond the box score. He's going to be a positive influence on the Warriors after a year of rickety play from Jordan Poole.
Warriors Rumors: Joe Lacob announces plan to retire Kevin Durant's No. 35
Kevin Durant spent three season with the Warriors. He won two championships and two Finals MVP awards, cementing the greatest dynasty in modern NBA history. He averaged 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on .586/.384/.883 splits in 208 games with the franchise.
It's hard to deny the production and the accolades. Durant will forever have a place in Warriors lore.
Of course, Durant often felt like an outsider, which ended up contributing to his exit. He wasn't part of the original group — Curry, Thompson, and Green won a title before Durant arrived. NBA fans often criticized Durant for ring-chasing and his exit was unceremonious. After a contentious final stretch with the team, Durant ruptured his Achilles in the NBA Finals, watched Golden State lose to the Raptors, and left for the Brooklyn Nets to join his friend Kyrie Irving.
Durant's rocky relationship with Draymond Green has since come into sharp focus, while those with a bone to pick regarding Durant's competitive wiring have openly questioned whether or not he "deserves" to have his number retired by the franchise. Durant, on the other hand, made it clear. He thinks he should have his number in the rafters after contributing so much in his time there.
Golden State CEO Joe Lacob said no player will ever again wear No. 35 for the Warriors. So, that debate is settled. While those perturbed by Durant's decision to form a superteam in the Bay were justified, that never took away from Durant's accomplishments with the team. He earned those championships and he absolutely earned a jersey retirement. Any time a player delivers two Finals MVP trophies for a franchise, it's safe to assume he has a place in the rafters.
Durant is one of the best players of all time. He's also one of the best Warriors of all time, whether disgruntled members of the fandom are willing to admit it or not.